Hayao Miyazaki - Part Two

1997: Mononoke-Hime (Princess Mononoke)

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Thoughts: Supposedly it took Miyazaki 16 years to fully develop this story. But it all paid off, because at one time it was the highest grossing film in Japan. It also won several awards. This one also has themes about human impact on nature and also portrayed the military in a negative light. It was also, in my opinion, his most violent. This one wasn't my favorite (mainly because I had a hard time separating it from his lighter, more family-friendly tales), but I do remember enjoying it.



2001: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Daveigh Chase (Lilo of Lilo & Stitch), Susan Egan (Megara in Disney's Hercules)

Thoughts: My favorite! I'm not sure why I like this one the most, to be honest. I thought it was a story mostly about being brave, and I found myself really admiring the main character. I was also really fascinated by the traditional bath house. There was also the friendship between the other main character that I just found so endearing. This movie also takes place in a more realistic city as opposed to a fantastic land or countryside.




2004: Hauru no Ugoku Shiro (Howl's Moving Castle).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Christian Bale, Billy Crystal, Jena Malone, Lauren Bacall.

Thoughts: A romance! I think these are the oldest characters, as Sophie is supposed to be around 18. First of all, I LOVED the idea of a moving castle - genius! I also loved the character Calcifer and found him funny. I also loved the end of this film. I wasn't too keen on the villians in this one, but ah well. It also had a military element, like many of his other films.




2008: Gake no Ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Matt Damon.

Thoughts: This was DEFINITELY the prettiest! It had such amazing colors and textures. I also love the work they did with the water. I thought this one was the most geared for children. The plot, to me, was definitely not as cohesive and straightforward as his other works. I also really loved Ponyo's mother's character! It actually kind of struck me as a new take on The Little Mermaid. It wasn't my favorite, but it was very different from the other movies and I thought it was really cute and colorful.

Sources: Youtube, Wikipedia, International Movie Database.

P.S. I know I'm missing at least two of his other works, but I haven't seen them yet!

Hayao Miyazaki - Part One

Sorry for the lack of posts! I've been having some troubles lately, but nothing too serious. I'd really like to keep this a place of positivity so I won't go into detail, but I've found something to be cheered up about! Not fashion or vintage related, but I hope you enjoy it :D! (And don't worry, I'm cooking up some of those posts, too!)

























I have loved Hayao Miyazaki (Born January 5, 1941) films ever since I first saw My Neighbor Totoro as a little girl. First of all, if you don't know who he is, he is a Japanese filmmaker/writer/director/artist who has been called the "Walt Disney of Japan." (Though supposedly he hates being called that.) In fact on his last few films he now works with Disney Studios. Surprisingly, he graduated college with a degree in political science and economics, not art or film. In 1985, he founded Studio Ghibli, which is now quite famous.

Here are some of his most well-known films, in order of release date, and some brief thoughts on them:




1984: Kaze no Tani no Naushika (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Uma Thurman, Alison Lohman, Patrick Stewart, Shia LaBeouf.

Thoughts: I don't enjoy war/conflict themed stories as much as other people might, so I'm a little biased I guess. This is the first time I saw his flying/aircraft and creature work. I was also impressed with the female lead, which I came to realize is very common in his films. It deals with technology and also portrays an obvious concern with human impact on the environment.





1986: Tenku no Shiro Rapyuta (Laputa: Castle in the Sky).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): James Van Der Beek, Anna Paquin, Andy Dick, Mark Hamill.

Thoughts: This one was very sweet. It's sort of that classic "treasure hunt" plot, where they go in search of a mythical land. I loved that this one took place in the sky, with all the floating/flying/etc. LOTS of aircrafts in this one, but much less military-esque and dark than Nausicaa. Definitely one his most most adventure-themed movies.



1988: Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbor Totoro).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Dakota Fanning.

Thoughts: This is probably my second favorite. It was actually dubbed twice, the most recent one featuring Dakota Fanning. I actually HATED this new one, so I highly suggest seeing the original dubbed version! This is just a story about the magic of being a child, and the bond between sisters and between fathers and daughters. It's a very sweet, innocent story. Plus it has a very catchy theme song O_O.



1989: Majo no Takkyubin (Kiki's Delivery Service).

Famous Voices: Kirsten Dunst, Matthew Lawrence.

Thoughts: I really identified with this one, as I think a lot of young girls did. It was probably most easy to relate to of all his films. It's about a young witch growing up, trying to find her place in life. I also think this is as a close to a romance as Miyazaki gets in any of his films (probably because these characters seem the oldest he's dealt with). I also really liked her cat companion. I guess growing up in America, you can't help growing up with a love of talking animals haha.



Sources: Youtube, Wikipedia, International Movie Database.

The Scent Story

Photo by mylulabelles.

Perfume is something I’ve grown up with. They say that scent the strongest sense tied to memory, and I think this is so true! I think it’s such a mysterious art, and it’s something I’ve become more and more interested in as I get older. I hope to one day try my hand at making my own! I actually worked in a perfume shop for a short time last year. It’s also special to me because it’s something my mom and I share - each year around Christmas time we go to Macy’s and pick out a new scent for that year. So! I thought it would be fun to share my little perfume story :D

1. “Sunflower” by Elizabeth Arden was my first perfume ever. I was probably about 10 when I got this? I didn’t wear it very often, but I still like it to this day! It’s pretty cheap, I’ve been meaning to pick up a bottle at Wal*Mart just for kicks!

Ingredients: Bergamot, Melon, Peach, Osmanthus, Jasmine, Cyclamen, Sandalwood, Moss.

2. “Curious” by Britney Spears was probably the next one. I wasn’t particularly a fan of hers, but when I was younger I really liked her perfume! I found it got old really fast for me though.

Ingredients: Louisiana Magnolia, Golden Anjou Pear, Lotus Flower, Tuberose, Star Jasmine, Pink Cyclamen, Vanilla Infused Musk, Sandalwood, Blonde Woods.

3. “With Love” by Hilary Duff. Again, the celebrity really had nothing to do with the choice, but I did really like Lizzie MacGuire at the time! I was really attracted to the shape of the bottle, too.

Ingredients: Milk, Fruit, Mangosteen, Musk, Flower, Exotic Spices, Amber, Cocobolo Wood

4. “Heavenly” by Victoria’s Secret. I actually got this as a gift from a school friend in junior high. I wonder if she knows I still wear this one occasionally! Not my favorite anymore though…

Ingredients: Vanilla quince, Cardamom, White peony, Freesia, White musk, Sandalwood.

5. “Brit” by Burberry. Unfortunately my boyfriend thinks this smells like “his grandmother’s couch” haha but I was really excited about this one a few years ago! It’s true though, a little goes a long way.

Ingredients: Italian Lime, Icy Pear, Green Almond, White Peony, Sugared Almonds, Amber, Mahogany, Vanilla, Tonka Bean.

6. “Amour” by Kenzo. This one is really different from anything I have. It’s very powdery and sweet. I wore it a lot last winter. I love all of the asian influences!

Ingredients: Frangipani Blossoms from Bali or Borobudur, Cherry Blossoms from Japan, Tanakha Wood, Incense, Thai Rice Steam, Vanilla of La Réunion, White Tea from China.

7. “Lovely” by Sarah Jessica Parker. My mom and I share this one actually. It’s kind of a sophisticated smell to me, and I think my mom wears it more than me.

Ingredients: Lavender, Orchid, Amber, Apple Martini, Paper Whites, Musk.

8. “Fancy” by Jessica Simpson. This is what I wear…if I want to smell like dessert :P It’s probably the sweetest perfume I own.

Ingredients: amber crystals, apricot nectar, pear, gardenia, jasmine, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, red fruits, toasted almonds.

9. “Daisy” by Marc Jacobs. My everyday fragrance. I’m not usually a fan of such intense florals (usually I tend towards the sweeter stuff) but I really like this one!

Ingredients: Strawberry, Violet Leaves, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Gardenia, Violet Petals, Jasmine Petals, Musk, Vanilla, White Woods.

10. “Princess” by Vera Wang. This is one of my current favorites. I only have a small vial of it, so I try to use it sparingly. It makes me feel really feminine and pretty J! I also think it’s one of my (oh jeez)…sexier scents :O

Ingredients: Water Lily, Lady Apple, Mandarin Meringue, Golden Apricot Skin, Ripe Pink Guava, Tahitian Flower, Wild Tuberose, Dark Chocolate, Pink Frosting Accord, Precious Amber, Forbidden Woods, Royal Musk Captive, Chiffon Vanilla.

11. “Hot” by Ralph Lauren. Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of RL’s perfumes. But I made an exception to this one. Even though I hate the bottle (designed for a 13 year old, looks like!) I really love the scent. This is pretty strictly my “night time” perfume because it’s a lot heavier than the other ones. And (yes, I’ll say it again, yikes!) sexy, too :P I read a review once that said it smelled like pancakes and maple syrup…Kinda true!

Ingredients: Spices, Lime, Amber, Fig Leaf, Mandarin Orange, Musk, Orchid, Almond Blossom, Vanilla, Jasmine, Citrus, Sandalwood, Geranium.

12. To make it an even dozen my newest will be Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Twilight,” which I ordered today. Not to be confused with the Twilight series perfume (oh, Lord)! I really like the story behind this one, too…It’s a division of her Lovely line, that is part of a set of three, the other two being Dawn and Endless. The idea is to record moments of her life, as Dawn is a dewy, morning smell, and Twilight is the sensual, mysterious smell…Makes "scents"! (Eep, I'm so bad at puns...)





















A few perfume tips I’ve learned!:

1. It can last up to 8 years if stored properly (out of sunlight in cooler temperatures. You can even put them in the fridge!)

2. Difference between an EDP and an EDT? EDPs (Eau de Parfum) are more intense and last longer. EDTs (Eau de Toilettes) are a little weaker, but are usually less expensive.

3. Don’t buy full size!! Unless you have one signature scent that you use every day, I’d suggest looking online for smaller sizes. Ebay and other sites sometimes divide up large bottles and sell them in sample sizes.

4. Try it on your skin before you buy. Spray a little on your wrist and smell it over the next few hours - everyone’s body chemistry is different!

5. If they aren’t sitting out, ask the counter attendant for the coffee beans. Smell them periodically so that your nose doesn’t get overwhelmed!

Oh, and if you were curious, my mom wears Chanel No. 5, Beloved by American Beauty, Red Door, White Shoulders, and Lovely by SJP…to name a few :P Clearly she is a lady of the classics ;)

So...what do you wear? I'm so curious!

Shopping Habits + Mini DIY Projects

It's funny when you really take a look into your room, you kinda learn a little about yourself! So I thought it might be fun to share the kinds of things I somehow ended up collecting, or I guess the things I've realized I have a tendency to buy. It's been good because now I see that I have enough of certain things and I'll have a better idea of what I "need" when I go shopping again :).






























Wow, I'm really into warm tones I guess! So now I am strictly enforcing the no red, pink, orange, yellow, or brown ban. This is especially odd because my favorite colors are green and blue. So I quickly remedied that this morning and bought the most gorgeous blue dress on Etsy, which I will post in due time :)...






























I live at home at the moment, and so I try not to buy too many housewares...but I just can't resist these tins! I think they're called "Daner" tins, as far as I've been able to research, and are made mostly in England. Originally they seemed to be used for storing tea. In my future kitchen, I plan on putting a whole lot of them on a shelf above the stove and using them to store all kinds of goodies besides tea :D






























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Initial memoribila. Eek, a little narcissistic I know. But I think when something is personalized it makes it a little bit special and little more you. I made this wooden initial pin some time ago, I wear it usually on my work apron. If you're into DIY projects, simply: 1. Buy a wooden letter. I found this one in a 2 pack at Joanne Fabrics. 2. Stain and let dry for at least 24 hrs, or longer. 3. Once dry, hot glue a pin back onto it. Let dry for an hour or so. Ta da!


































This was a Christmas gift, though I'd love to try to make one myself.































This is a habit I'd call a bad one. Flats, flats, flats! I have three pairs of heels: one black pair, one brown pair, and a multi-color pair for fun. I really love them but I find them pretty much unbearable if I need to do any amount of walking. But surely there are comfortable heels? Anyway, these two are my favorites lately. The light blue denimish ones on the right I thrifted, and they are incredibly comfortable. The ones on the left were inspired by The Clothes Horse. I fell in love with the black pair she got from Bona Drag, and I ran (or rather, clicked) straight there ready to buy a pair, but suffered from sticker shock and decided not to.

So I decided to just make them myself! I ended up not being the first to have this idea and found a tutorial, which worked perfectly. The only thing I did differently was at the end when you're all finished, use duck tape for the inside instead of electrical tape - much more comfortable. I bought the shoe at AllAboutDance.com for about $20 including shipping, the studs for a few dollars on Ebay, and everything else I had around the house.

Now I'm off to enjoy a dinner of fried squash, corn on the cob, fresh green beans, and cherries! I love summer :D

These are a few of my favorite things ♫...

So, since I'm one of the new kids around here, I thought I'd tell you a little about me ^_^. I'll spare you a song about it (sorry, Julie Andrews!) and instead break it down in a little list (because I love those, too!).

♥ Rose scented body products! Roses are my favorite flower and one of my favorite smells of all time. I haven't found the perfect rose perfume yet, but some of my favorite products are: Dr. Bronner's hemp soap in rose, Lush's "A Ring of Roses" Buttercream soap, and Smith's Rosebud Salve.

♥ Expensive chocolate. Now, regular grocery store cheap stuff works in an emergency, but I have to admit I'm a bit of snob when it comes to chocolate and would much prefer to get the good stuff. My favorite is Godiva, but a close second is a local company called Malley's Chocolates. I actually worked there a few years ago. It opened in the '40s (you used to have to wear white gloves to get in!), is totally decked out in girly pink roses, and girls who work there are still required to wear skirts. Except of course, when you are the Easter bunny...






























(That's my mom on the left!)

♥ Dance Dance Revolution. Yes, I'll admit it - I am definitely a geek. A dancing geek. I used to play with my friends obsessively in high school, but only occasionally now when I'm due for a bit of exercise! It's actually sort of how my current boyfriend and I met. He's way better than me and plays in a lot of tournaments.

♥ Little House books. Intended for ages 8-12, I know, I know. But lately I've just wanted to let my brain melt into a simple series and indulge my nostalgic tendencies. These stories paint such lovely little old timey pictures in my head, I often find myself daydreaming about these places...























♥ Nail polish. Since I wear a uniform at work, I like to paint my nails to give myself a little boost. I only do it every once and awhile, and I think it's kind of therapeutic to paint a few coats! Some of my favorites are, from left to right: Essie's Blanc, You Don't Know Jacques by OPI, For Audrey by China Glaze (about as close to Tiffany's as I'll ever get!), Basket Case by O'rly (which I was inspired to buy because of miss Piksi's photo!), and Monsooner or Later by OPI (I was trying to match the orangey red color from the 1997 movie "Lolita"!)


















♥ Sailor Moon! I used to tape this show every day when I came home from middle school. I actually really identify with the main character, who is supposed to be kind of lazy and flaky but ultimately "triumphs over evil!" ...You know what I mean. I have the first two (and best, in my opinion) seasons on my computer, which I watch whenever the mood strikes. I actually had a toy scepter that I kept for a long time before deciding to put on Ebay. It sold for over $100, but it still breaks my heart a little!
















Anyway, hope that was a little interesting for you! Don't forget to check back here tomorrow to see who won the giveaway!