Moved~!

Hey to my one follower and anyone who may pop in to read this blog occasionally, just wanted to let you know I've moved servers ^^
my blog is now at http://ffrikku.blog138.fc2.com/ :D
<3 Karen

Silly Weathermen

Yesterday, the weathermen said that tonight we might be getting a light dusting of snow, which made me very happy because I love snow

Around noon today, it started snowing, little flurries at first then harder and harder and now...we have about 3 inches :D Unfortunately I had to send my camera back to get it replaced (the screen was messed up) so I don't have any pictures to show T.T

Still, I love it when the weathermen are wrong about weather like this ^_^

I also had 3 exams last Thursday. I think they all went really well too! ...well, except for one which was a bit more challenging than I thought but I've done well in that class so if my exam grade is a bit low, the rest of my grades should balance it out.

On Monday I will have my Japanese exam which I feel very prepared for. Then on Wednesday I have my exam in Communication Studies. After that, I get to come home for Christmas break ^_^

I'm a bit sad this weekend because normally, I talk to my boyfriend a lot on Skype when I come home on the weekends, but his laptop got a bad virus and he keeps getting the blue screen of death >_<

But he is coming home in 2 weeks!!! *happy squeel*

Hope you're all having a wonderful day!

じゃね、Byebye!

-Karen

Stress, Begin!

I had a nice long (not long enough though) break from school for Thanksgiving but alas, all good things must come to an end and I am back at college (-_-;)
This week, finals start >.>" I have 3 final exams on Thursday, another next Monday, and the last one is on the 9th.
It's not necessarily the finals that have me fretting, more the fact that I have 3 in a 24 hour period!!! (more like a 10 hour period.... *dies*)

I have new videos up on my youtube channels, please check them out ^^
http://www.youtube.com/user/finalfantasysrikku?feature=mhum
http://www.youtube.com/user/RikkuTake2

I'm off to get some extra sleep tonight so I can study more tomorrow morning!

じゃね、Byebye!

Karen

Fruhes Einkaufen

More pictures from the show (which are out of order because it's very hard to upload photos to this blog for some reason >.>)

Luka Luka Night Fever

My friend and I in sweet lolita

more luka luka

right after the show, "AHHH YESSSS IT'S OVER! *cheering*"

I was telling my friend I wanted to steal her dresses

Meiko cosplay

practicing the final final line-up

more Meiko

more sweet lolita

dancing to Jiriri Kiteru after the show

dancing~

after the show, relaxing and answering questions from the audience

Krystal and I dancing to Luka Luka Night Fever

Corri setting up the mic (and little Roy assisting)

we had several lolita dresses on display

Chilling before the show

Backstage, apparently while Lelouch and I were talking...I found something very funny XDThen we practiced lining up :D

More standing around

Practicing the final lineup

ZOMG We know how to line up!

Trying to fix my friend's bow...
so my other lolita friend came to help (needless to say, the bow was unable to be fixed)


-Blog for today-

Deutsch:

Heute habe ich mit meinen Freunden einkaufen gegangen (weil ich nicht "Black Friday" einkaufen will) fuer Weinachten. Aber...ich habe mehr fuer mich gekauft aus andere Leute... >.>; oops.

Ich hatte neues Parfume und ein Hello Kitty Handtasche fuer mich gekauft. Fuer meine Mutter kaufte ich andere Parfume. Ich habe auch etwas gekauft fuer mein Freund...aber....ich weiss nicht ob er dieses Blog liest oder nicht sooooo...sage ich nicht ^_~

English:

Today I went to the mall with some of my friends to do some Christmas shopping (because I don't want to be in the "Black Friday" crowd) But...I bought more things for myself than others >.>; oops.

I bought some new perfume, lotion and soap from Bath and Body Works and a Hello Kitty bag form Hot Topic. I also bought something for my boyfriend but...I'm not sure if he reads this blog or not...so I won't tell here either ^_~

I'm going to go take a shower and wait for my boyfriend to get on skype ^^

じゃね、Byebye!

Karen

Un-healthy

I find it slightly ironic that yesterday I posted about how I'm trying to be more healthy...and later last night I developed a sore throat >.>
Uggghhhh I HATE being sick! My throat hurts, drainage is gross, I woke up drenched in sweat but cold and I'm still cold...I don't want to leave my room today D': [/complaining whining]
I'm almost positive I have a cold, which means I can't do anything to stop it, just wait it out ;_;
As for not wanting to leave my room...my grumbling tummy tells me I must make my way to the cafeteria and feed it.
Anothing thing I hate about colds? Not being able to taste what I eat...(then again since I'm eating university cafeteria food that may be a good thing...)

Healthy

Recently I've realized that my eating habits are going to eventually take a toll on my health, that my young metabolism won't keep me like this forever. I realized this when I came to college and gained about 5 1/2 pounds.

Before anyone goes nuts, I'm not saying I think I'm fat, because I'm not, I just don't want to gain weight too suddenly and now be able to stop.

So recently I've been drinking more water and trying to make healthier choices at meals as well as exercising.

Unfortunatly, I'm used to eating lots of junk food, fast food, and good ol' southern soul food (IE: everything deep fried and or covered in gravy) which is what I grew up eating. But I don't want to find myself down the road with high cholesterol, clogged arteries, or heart disease from constantly eating a heart attack on a bun.

The transistion is kind of difficult- I've had to make myself not eat so many burgers and fries and switch to sandwiches and salads.

But it's fun to eat salads, I pretend I'm a bunny when I eat them :3

じゃね、Byebye!
-Karen

Fashion Show Photos -Part 1-

Here are just a few shots I took backstage at the show. Hopefully I'll have actual model shots soon too!

my first outfit for Luka Luka Night Fever danceAll of the stuff I had to haul across campus every day we had rehersal O_O" glad it's over!Peeps backstage!
my squee buddy! (we kept saying "squee" all night) Decora, Roy, and a lolita
wa-lolita, classic lolita, ganguro, and Lelouch
the height difference between me and one of the ganguro girls was TOO FUNNY! granted she was wearing platforms...but still, when she's not she's still so tall!

As for this morning (which I thought was going to suck because I was still exhausted)


Chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast? My day is made.

and I saw this sign today in a building on campus...anyone care to explain what exactly the connection is between big bird, sex, and drugs?

じゃね、Byebye!

-Karen

Fashion Show

Today our university's Japanese club put on a "Harajuku Fashion Show" to raise money for our club and to show a few of the different styles that can be seen in the streets of Harajuku. We had a lot of planning, time, effort, and practice that went into it...and it all paid off ^^ We originally only had 50 tickets, but we ended up selling 89!
Our show included ganguro, decora, cosplay, and several different kinds of lolita fashion as well as a dance number. Personally, I took part in 3 of these catagories and when backstage was running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get in and out of my outfits. I wore a casual outfit for the dance Luka Luka Night Fever (video below), then rushed to change into my Meiko cosplay (which almost turned disastourous because while I was trying to put my hair up to put the wig on, my only hairtie broke (luckily one of the other models had a spare wig cap..odd thing to carry around haha but I was so grateful!) then I changed into Angelic Pretty's Cherry Bunny.

Afterwards, there was a meet-and-greet in the lobby where the audience members could ask us questions about the styles and outfits. I also performed Jiriri Kiteru after the show and my friend danced to "Oshiete! Mahou no Lyric"
People seemed to be amazed at how much energy I had and kept saying "you must be tired!" but honestly, I wanted to dance MORE! I love to perform and dance ^^
However my mind finally realized my body was tired when I got back to my dorm. I wanted to collapse and go to sleep but I have a bunch of stuff to read for Asian Studies tomorrow and I had a web exercise on human evolution for anthropology. -_-"
Add to that the fact that I haven't eaten much all day (because when I went to Chikfil'a they gave me a SPICY chicken sandwich instead of a regular one and I couldn't eat it :x too spicy!) so now I'm very hungry but we need to go grocery shopping this weekend (no food in the dorm D: ) and so I'm drinking a protein shake and eating a bag of doritos from the vending machine, hoping it will hold me until breakfast -_ -
I'm tempted to go to sleep but I'm waiting for my boyfriend to call. Apparently he called last night (I fell asleep waiting with the phone in my hand) and while I was asleep, this was the conversation between me and my roommate:
Her:" Hey Karen. Your phone is ringing"
me: "..."
her: "are you gonna answer it?"
me: ... *rolls over and glances at phone* "It's mom" (when actually it wasn't)
her: "are you gonna answer?"
me: "NO." *rolls back over*

xD apparently I've also told her one time to GTFO our room while I was asleep D: I hate sleep talking!

So to avoid another situation like that, I'm waiting for him to call before I fall asleep tonight xD

I'll try to get pictures of the show up here soon!

じゃね、Byebye！

-Karen

Ouch

My friend was making silly jokes...
for those who don't know me, I kind of convulse when I laugh and ball up
...well...
this time being the klutz I am, I hit my eye on the edge of the desk x_X
it hurt, and still hurts, but I'm still laughing XD I'm such a klutz!

Bad thing I just realized though, I'm going to be in a fashion show tomorrow Dx

LONG LIVE CONCEALER!

じゃね、Byebye!

-Karen

Cobwebs

*dusts off cobwebs from blog*

Long time no see! I (once again) have been extremely neglectful in my blogging *headdesk*
I don't feel like doing a long update so here are the main points ^^

School:
I am almost finished with my first semester at college (wut?! it went by so fast!!!) Registration for next semester starts Friday O.O
So far, college is great. I have a wonderful feeling of freedom and indepence without feeling too far from my family. My grades are staying pretty good for a freshman IMO and I still have time to be me ^^

Hair/fashion:
I got extensions last week! :D
I love them so much. I miss having long hair and these not only look natural but also feel pretty much like my hair too (slightly different texture but whatever) I had 10" and 12" put in and now my hair comes down to my boobs, esscentially. When my hair naturally grows out to this length, I definetaly want it cut like it looks now ^^
As for fashion, lately I've been going crazy for japanese and korean fob looks. Now it seems like even I'm not trying to put a cute lil outfit together, one just pops out of my closet and attaches itself to me xD

Youtube/NicoNico/obsession with Japan Idols in general:
I'm still for some reason hanging on to that dream of being an idol in Japan of being discovered at least :/ It's probably not so good for me to be dreaming like this, but it's hard to stop.

I haven't had time to upload as many things as I'd like, but I did get a surprise when I re-did my Love and Joy dance. I uploaded the new version to my niconico and within a day it had 500 views and 20 comments which just blew my mind =O Unfortunataly, they weren't all positive, but still...I don't know, just knowing that so many people in Japan watched my video in that amount of time made me feel...good. lol I sound weird now.

But honestly, I think that if a company were to take me under their wing, I would fit the typical "cutesy kawaii moe girl" that most stars seem to be known for (because honestly, I am naturally a very cutsey girl as well as...well...not lol it's hard to explain) I'm trying to find companies and get known...but it's hard. CAP was my first chance and probably my only chance. Some days I really miss it and want to go back but others I really am glad I left. Something tells me I'll regret it more in the future if I don't do anything though.

<3

A guy I met at a convention 2 years ago (and have had a bit of a crush on ever since) and I started talking even more this summer shortly before I went to Germany and a lot after I got back. When I got to college, we started skyping eachother every night we could. At that point, I had fallen and was lovestruck but scared he didn't feel the same way. Early September he found out he was going to basic training for the air force for 2 months...the day before he left he asked me to be his girlfriend >////<

Today is our 2 month anniversery ^^

He just got to California (where he'll be going to school for a while) about an hour ago. I haven't seen him in person since last May, or online since September but this weekend he gets a computer hopefully so we can skype again :)

Geeky as it may sound, we mailed each other back and forth while he was in training and he had his mom mail me his favorite sweatshirt (which I now take with me everywhere like a child with a blanket; I even sleep in it ^///^ ) It helps me feel like he's not so far away.

He'll be flying back here for Christmas, so naturally I can't wait for Christmas :)

(not sure what to title this part soo....)

Bunny.

There's no other way to say it. Bunny.

I really want a bunny D: haha but the sad thing is we can't have pets in our dorm rooms except for fish >.>" I went to the pet store the other day to play with the bunnies (bad idea) because I fell in love with a gray rex bunny. He was so sweet, and I felt like he needed me *___* I held him close and he snuggled up to me, and buried up by my neck. When I rubbed his cheek, he'd close his eyes *____* I was about to call my mom and tell her "I don't want anything else for my birthday- just this bunny" but I wouldn't be able to keep it here with me ;_; Besides, I'm already asking my parents for texting for my birthday (lol yes I am the only person I know who does not have texting...12 year olds nowadays even have texting)

I just noticed I have a splinter in my thumb where I thought it was a papercut :/ I need to take care of that before it gets infected! *glances back to top of post* What was that about this being a short update? haha oh well.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

じゃね、Byebye!

-Karen

=O

AHHH Oh dear gracious I have been TERRIBLE about updating this!!!!!!
I'm so sorry ;_;

I've been so lazy and sleeping all the time since I came back from Germany (I really miss it there, I cried so hard when I left) But things are about to be getting busy again because next week I'll be moving into my college dorm! :D YAY!
I'm excited about college but also a bit nervous because I know it's a lot more work than I've ever done and quite frankly I'm worried about writing papers because I suck at writing OTL but I'm really excited because starting this semester I will be taking Japanese classes!!!!! *fist pump of joy* and I hope to get my hair cut short again soon, it's down to my shoulders now and I need it short for most of my cosplays (I hate wigs)

And on top of the big move, I've been having computer issues lately. My laptop started doing this thing where a blue prompt sort of screen comes up and it resets itself and all sorts of stupidity. I think it may have a virus or something ;^; so we took it to the doctor (aka Geek Squad) and they're working on it now. SO...I have no computer...other than my parent's main computer which doesn't have a webcam or any video software so I can't edit or upload any videos until my baby gets better ;^;


It doesn't really matter anyway because I'm in a major dance rut right now. Nothing I do looks right to me ._.;
I really miss being a member of Cruel Girls ;_; All of the girls were (and still are) so nice <3 I often regret quiting. I emailed the manager a while back asking to rejoin but he never replied...so I figured that meant "you quit once, you're out for good"
But I don't know....I may email him again...because I miss it so much "orz

Jya ne (my parent's computer doesn't have japanese either orz), bye bye!
<3 Karen

Deutschland -Tage 5-

Heute war geil, aber ich bin mude. Wir sind auf ein Tour von Augsburg gegangen, es dauert 4 Stunde!!
Today was awesome but tiring. We took a walking tour of Augsburg that lasted 4 hours!!!

I ging ins ein Backeri. Ich LIEBE Deutsche Brot weil es immer frisch ist! Ich hatte ein Danisch und auch ein Croissant.
I went to a bakery when we had a little down time, I LOVE German bread because it's always fresh. I had a danish and took a croissant for a snack later.

Wir sind so faul, die Amerikaner (die andere Studenten und ich) lief nicht viele. Ende der Tage, war meine Leherin so weg von uns sagen "Wir mussen ins Banhof gehen, Gehe schnell!"
We lazy Americans aren't used to walking that much and at the end of the day, when Frau Hood said "we are going to the train station, quickly" it ended up being my teacher followed about a block behind by a group of tired, trying-to-keep-up teenagers.

Ich hatte weiss wurst heute probiert (wir hatten ein "Bayarnische" Abdendessen mit weiss wurst, Bretzeln, Tomaten, Kase, aber kein Bier) und es schmeckt gut.
I tried whitewurst today (we had a "Bavarian" dinner of whitewurst, pretzels, tomatoes, cheese, but no beer) it was pretty good. I wouldn't eat it every day, but I liked it. They have a special sauce you dip it in (tasted like honey-mustard to me) and there is a specific way to eat the wurst (as in how you go about peeling it)

Das Wetter is endlich schone! Es hat so viel geregnet, aber jetzt ist es sonnig und warm. Spater in die Woche geht es warmer!
The weather is finally nice here. It had been cloudy and rainy and chilly the whole time but now the sun is finally out and it's supposed to warm up as the week goes on.

Tschuss!
Bye!

Deutschland -Tag 4-

Auch Mench! ich hab dieses Blog NOCH vergessen! es tut mir Leid ;_;
Ahhh no! I forgot this blog AGAIN! I'm sorry ;_;

na ja, been ich in Deutschland, heute ist Tag 4 von viele! Freitag war ich krank weil ich schlechte Jetlag hatte. kein spass. :(
I've been in Germany, today is day 4 of many! I was sick Friday because I had bad jetlad. No fun. :(

und so Samstag hatte ich uberhaupt nichts gemacht, weil ich soooo muede war ._.;
endlich gestern hatte ich energie so meine Hostfamilie und ich fahrten zu Nuerenburg. Ich hab so viele fotos gemacht! uber 100!!! hier sind nur ein paar
And so on Saturday I did absolutaly nothing because I was so tired ._.;
finally yesterday I had energy so my host family and I drove to Nuremburg. I took so many pictures, over 100! here are just a few







heute musste ich ins school gehen zu Deutsche Erdkunde und Deutsch zu lernen. Es war so lassig (Deutsch) aber ich spreche VIEL besser und mehr als ich screibe >.<; Today I had to go to school and learn about German geography as well as learn some (beginners) German. It was so easy (the German) but I speak SO much better/more than I write or type! >.<;

Nach der Schule haben meine Hostschwester und ich ins Augsburg Einkaufen gegangen. Glucklich kaufte ich nicht viele hahaha xDDD nur etwas Schokolade, ein "I <3 Germany" T-Shirt, und Erdnussbutter (LECKER!!!!!)
After school my host sister and I went shopping in Augsburg. Luckily I didn't buy a lot hahahaha xDDD just some chocolate, a "I <3 Germany" T-Shirt, and peanut butter (yum!!)

ich bin so glucklich, dass ich eine sehr sehr nett und sympatische Hostfamilie habe!!! Ich liebe sie!
I'm so lucky to have such a nice and caring host family! I love them!

Tschuss!
Bye!

AAAAHH!

OH MY GOSH
I am so sorry (to anyone who actually comes to read this blog) I have been SUCH a bad blogger!!!
Lots to catch up on!

First off, I GRADUATED!
YAAAAAY!


But following graduation, not only did I become a couch potato with a weird sleep schedule, I also had to take my next step in life...college orientation. (>.>);
2 days of presentation slides and freaking out trying to make sure I signed up for the right classes. Japanese was full (;o;) but maybe someone will drop out and I can get a spot.
I ended up with my fall freshman semester consisting of:
-Intro to Communications
-General Psychology
-International Studies: Focus on Asia
-Anthropology (and a lab)
-Dance Appreciation

...I just really hope I don't over-do it in my first semester. Needing to spend 2-3 hours outside of class studying for every class is going to be a big change (@.@)

I'm SUPER AMAZINGLY ULTRA EXCITED because I leave to go to Germany this week!!!
The downside is that I need to stop procrastinating and get the powerpoint ready for the presentation I have to give to some to one of the English classes over there (>.<) I need to learn NOT to procrastinate!!! It's going to kill me in college!!! This week, I'm going to start trying to put myself on the German time zone so that (hopefully) I don't have too much jetlag. I've had 3 hour jetlag before and it sucked, so I can't imagine the lag I'll get this week (@.@) My current anime obsession is DEFINATLY Axis Powers Hetalia!!!! I love it so much, it's so funny and awesome. I wish history had really been like that! All of my friends (myself included) have voted hands-down that I need to cosplay as Italy xD he's my favorite character!!! PASTA~ We're already trying to form a Hetalia cosplay group. So far we have Japan, China, and Italy with one more person in the group undecided as to who she wants to cosplay. I'm trying to get my friend Sachie to help me with a new blog layout (especially because she has adorable emoticons!!!)

I'm a very happy little Karen, because I finally found my EGL dream dress...and was able to buy it!!! Angelic Pretty's Cherry Bunny OP in yellow (with the headbow too!!) (the one on the right)It'll take a while for it to get here though, since I had to use a Japanese shopping service to purchase it on mbok but I think it's so worth it!! <3 style="text-align: center;">Amazing Tetris blocks