I've sort of stopped writing personal journals, but this is a journal I really want to write Maybe it'll inspire some other people as well. One can only hope!

Recently I completed a cosplay of mine that I had been dreaming of doing for over a decade.
In 2005 my very good friend Sketch did a Lynx cosplay, and ever since then I made it a goal of mine to one day make Serge and get some photos with my self-adopted brother.

It's not a very hard costume, but making it meant a lot to me.

Now, a lot of people think it's pretty odd when someone says "video games taught me a lot about life" because, honestly, how can sitting in your room all day teach you about life?
Am I right?

Like pretty much every other nerd on the planet; I grew up without many friends, and the ones I did have I either saw rarely, or were thousands of miles away.
My life began to boil down to video games and anime.
But when I was 10 years old, my sister ~ReekaValentyne and I played this amazing game called Chrono Cross. Many will argue that Trigger was much better, and I'll agree it was amazing, but playing Chrono Cross and getting everything perfect became something my sister and I looked forward to every day after school. We didn't bond much over anything else at the time, pretty much video games and our love for fighting with each other was all we did together (lol).

We loved the game so much that we made it a point to finish it from beginning to end every year. That alone made it special to me.

Throughout the game you play as Serge, who's existence confuses not only the people around him, but more importantly himself. Everyone runs into this question in life: "Who am I?" "Why am I here?" etc; Questions that I had just begun to start wondering myself that the game got me thinking about even more.

I couldn't define myself, like Serge, so I began to connect with the game on a deeper personal level.
The many people Serge meets throughout the game and the situations he finds himself in boils down to, well what else, fate.
Are our entire lives manufactured?
Do we really have control over what happens to us?

In the end, Serge and Kid beat their "destiny" and prove that your life is for the taking.
I felt silly being so inspired by a video game, but the moral of the story stuck with me for years. This game quickly became, and still is, my favourite game of all time.

I've been trying to beat the path everyone feels is laid out for me, and like the rest of the world, I try to improve myself every day. Still I feel like I've been hitting a brick wall for years... then the question pops up again; "Do we have any control over fate?"

Many times I've been on the brink of giving into the norm I so desperately wished to escape. I wanted--want--more from life. This can't be all there is, can there?

Then, a few months ago, when I thought things couldn't possibly get worse... I woke up. I realized everything I was doing was all wrong. Constantly complaining about things I can't change instead of working on what I CAN change. I felt like Serge when he was reborn into his new body.
In the end, the problem was myself. We all want to find scapegoats in our lives, we want to find someone to blame for why our lives are the way they are, but honestly... if you really want something so important like your life to change, why leave it up to someone else?

I took my life by the horns, and instead of being charged over or looking around for a rodeo clown to save me, I pushed back just as hard.
It's only been about a month, but my life is rapidly getting better.

Every day my new boss inspires me to be only better at everything in life. We are capable of whatever we set our minds to. You can literally be and do anything you want in life; you set your limits, no one else does.
"Reach for the Sun, and you'll get to the Moon." he says.
Well, I'm a 'Star Stealing Girl'... and I think we all should be


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"Star Stealing Girl"
[link]

Most of you are more than likely unaware of this, but this situation has been spreading like wildfire recently.
I could sit here and talk about how baffled I am that people haven't known about this for so long, or about the importance of this is.
But I think what will have the most impact is this video:

>>>>>>>>>>>>> [link] <<<<<<<<<<<<<

Don't ignore this any longer.
It may not be in your Country or directly affect you, but what ever happened to love thy fellow man? We have no problem loving each other who share the same interests, but what about loving someone and standing up for something because it's what's right?
The people are the voice and choices of the world, not politicians.

This isn't just something you should idly click by and say "I'll think about it later." No, this matters now.

There are so many people I've seen just look over things like this because it "wasn't import enough" to them. It disgusts me on a level I can't describe. If your life honestly is nothing more than a bunch of pageviews and features, then I don't believe I have any words for you. Our hobbies are important to us, but so is helping the world we live in. If you're not here to help anyone but yourself, then what is your purpose? I could never imagine being like that.
Yes, it is nice to have things we want, but when the times comes to do something for the world I honestly hope that everyone acknowledges doing the right thing is far more important.

We don't have to fly out to Africa or hunt down Kony ourselves, but we can do what we are able.
30 minutes and clicking the 'Share' button isn't much to ask.

I know what I'm doing April 20th.

UPDATE

We're not going to have to worry about this.
Thank you Anonymous.

[link]

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Do you like the internet? YouTube? Fanart/Cosplay? Freedom of Speech? Job (web related)? Freedom in general..?

Congress is currently trying to pass a bill called SOPA; censoring the internet to stop piracy. Experts agree there are better ways to stop piracy than asking the U.S. to censor the internet.

Basically, to put it into terms that everyone here might connect more with....no more amv's, no more cosplay, no more fanart. If you didn't make the idea 100% by you, it can no longer be on the internet. Sure, cosplaying is fun on it's own, but getting rid of our entire online community..? We'd be back to forums with no banners.

Of course, these aren't my main concerns, and I won't get into freedom of speech because I didn't post this to debate.

PLEASE sign the petition at the bottom of this journal.
You may not care if the internet is censored, but this is going to not only hurt nerds, but more importantly the millions of people who have jobs because of this freedom.
Not in this recession... not ever.


************* SIGN HERE: [link] *************

So I wake up this morning to a very pleasant surprise; my sister bursting down my door screaming "You're on Kotaku!!"
[link]

I can't tell you how much I love working with my sister, ~ReekaValentyne, and I can't wait to post more photos of my Great Fairy cosplay.
Thank you so much Kotaku and everyone who's visited my page (recently or not!)

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Since I haven't had a Kiriban for a while, just wanted to remind everyone it's at 75K ^0^ try to catch it~

I don't even have words for this... it's just so highly unprofessional. Just... Just wow.

*****
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[link]
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Happy Holidays to everyone celebrating whatever you may be celebrating this time of year!

If you have any Holiday cosplay photos, I'd love to see them! ^_^ Post them in comments :3

Yes, I'm giving into the ways of the media...they may take my time, effort, thought and care....but they'll never take my dignity......!!

Ok, so I don't ever use this journal anymore.
So I created a Tumblr for people who WANT to read stuff! TADA~

vvvvv
[link]
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^^^^

Selling Vampire Knight Male Uniform

So you know when you say "I'll buy something so I don't have to make it, it's just for ____ anyways! What could go wrong?"
Ya, so my Vampire Knight cosplay is way too large for me.

Long story short, I'm selling my costume. I cannot return it because I did wear it for a shoot (clothes pins were involved lol).

The costume is brand new as I only wore it for 4 hours for a photoshoot.
So, basically, you're getting a brand new costume for $20 cheaper than their website sells.

I'll be selling it for $85, this includes shipping.

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*[link]*
It is a Large.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!!

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Twitter

I got a Twitter too!
[link]

Happy Halloween Cosplay Month everyone! ^_^

I know some of you have kids, and even if you don't, don't really want to spend a lot on Halloween.
My job made a video to help for Halloween! Featuring my co-workers and my boss... Mr. Mickey Mouse!


[link]


Enjoy, and Happy Halloween! ^_^

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MY subscription is almost up ;.; nooooo...

I got tagged by ...PUNK! >:C XD


Rules:

1. You must post these rules (VERY Important )
2. Each person must post answer 10 things about themselves on their journal.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set/chose for you in their post, and create ten new questions & The originals for the people you tag to answer.
4. You have to choose 10 or more people to tag and post their icons on your journal.
5. Go to their pages and tell them you have tagged her/him.
6.No crap in the tagging section about "you are tagged if you're reading this." You legitimately (AKA, really, truly with all honesty) have to tag 10 people (I.E. Go to their Profile tell them and/or link em to the Journal )

-

Questions I answered:


1. If you could spend a day as the opposite sex, would you do it?
HELLYEAH I WOULD. I love being a girl, but sometimes you gotta wonder....

2. What's your biggest fashion failure (you know, that one thing that you, in retrospect, can't understand why the heck you wore it)?
Oh God... ok when I was in 6th grade I had this green bathrobe that was made out of the same looking material as Rinoa's jacket and armwarmers from FF8... so IO cut the sleeves off of it and wore it over EVERYTHING. And I mean, EVERYTHING. Baggy t-shirts, sleep pants, jackets, you name it. I looked RIIIIdiciulous.

3. Any guilty pleasures?
My awesome obsession with Dumbo?

4. If you could sneak a peek into the future and see how your life turns out, would you?
I'd be hella curious, but no. Because then I'd always be worrying if I was choosing the "right" path to get what I saw, or I'd try so hard to change it I'd lose my mind.

5. What was your first pet?
SPECKER. A cat XD

6. Have you ever been in a fist fight? (if yes, please tell us the circumstances!)
Only with my sister lol and about stupid kid stuff. We're more like brothers. I've been in a lot of almost fights, I get in peoples faces pretty up close and personally... but not any fist fights... yet >_>b

7. If you could have a magical power, what would it be?
FLY. More than anything.

8. What's your favorite ice-cream flavor?
Chocolate

9. What's your dream job?
Making props for people. But A)I'm not at the skill level to sell and I don't have the proper equipment and B I'm not all that popular so I'd have to hella advertise myself.

10. Have you ever been afraid of yourself, and (if yes) why?
Yes. Although I think everyone is at some point in their lives. I'm generally not afraid of anything, and that's what scares me.

I'm trying to find good reference photos of a few of Luka's costumes.
All I've found is this site: [link]
Does anybody know where I can find higher resolution? (Not just this costume, but a lot of those concept arts).

Thanks everyone

This is a feature to the single greatest person in my life.

My sister, Erika, .

The world would not be as bright without her.

"A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life." ~ Isadora James

"To have a loving relationship with a sister is not simply to have a buddy or a confident -- it is to have a soulmate for life." ~ Victoria Secunda

"I know some sisters who only see each other on Mother's Day and some who will never speak again.  But most are like my sister and me... linked by volatile love, best friends who make other best friends ever so slightly less best."  ~Patricia Volk

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I'm here to deliver a message from my sister and all the rest of her cosplay group BLiTZ Cosplay.


"BLiTZ has always been about team work, about having fun, and generally about caring for our fellow man. We love to cosplay, we love to meet new people, and now we love to HELP people.

Recently we heard that the mother of a friend of ours was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Cait's [BLiTZ' Zelda] immediate thought was to do a cancer walk in her honor.... With that thought in mind, Cait brought up the idea of a COSPLAY cancer walk to Erika and Mark.

We are now OFFICIALLY launching our new project, COSPLAY FOR A CURE.

Visit our website at www.cosplayforacure.org and donate or sign up to walk with us today!

Spread the word!"


My Mother had cancer and survived when I was young, so this means a lot to me personally. We used to do walks every year since she was diagnosed, but life got in the way. I ask that if you are in a position to donate money, or walk, that you please do. I will be attending this walk with them.
Remember, every penny counts.

I wanted to feature somebody who I think deserves a lot more attention as a cosplayer, and as a friend.
Dis' is a feature for my bestie ~oujiyuki :3

She has been a true friend to me since I've met her, and even though we've had our rough spots I always knew and still know I can count on her for anything.

LABUU

Hey guys!

Last month I was interviewed by ~sonicm15 on Examiner.com for my EVA cosplay.

Check out the article and let me know what you think!
[link]
Be sure to comment on the article as well! It helps him out!

The first trailer for Cosplay: The Documentary, and the new website has been released:

[link]

This is the project my sister ~ReekaValentyne is currently working on.

The voice in the beginning is ~Yamiegyption.
You see lots of my other friends in here as well.

ENJOY!

Here, we're serious business: [link]

All jokes aside, I am here to promote my sister ~ReekaValentyne's Cosplay Documentary.

She will be attending conventions over the course of the year interviewing cosplayers (of all skills levels!) for this.

The first filming day was help last Sunday, May 2nd, and was a huge success.
A lot of people I knew were there, and it was also refreshing to see new faces and meet new people.

For more info on where she's going/the Documentary, click here: [link]

Lelouch and C.C.</i>

In celebration of mine and ~Eva-No-Jutsu's upcoming Code Geass cosplay, I've decided to do a feature!
~Eva-No-Jutsu will be C.C. and I will be Lelouch: [link]


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