Rest in peace, dear authors

I just found out today that three of my favorite authors died in 2011. I had only heard about one of their deaths, so the other two were unexpected. What a sad year.

Rest in peace:

--Anne McCaffrey

One  of the most well-known and best science fiction writers. Creator of Pern, the Rowan, Acorna, and The Ship who Sang. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award, as well as a Grand Master of science fiction. I grew up reading her novels at the school and town libraries, and so many of her novels are currently on my bookshelf that I´ve lost count. I had hoped to be able to meet her at a book signing someday, like I met her son. No such luck. RIP. I will always remember the world that first inspired me to write.

--Dianna Wynne Jones

Mother of Howl´s Moving Castle and so many other fantasy stories, like the Chrestomanci cycle, all with her characteristic writing style. Some of her books were rather strange, but all of them made you fall in love with them. I also read many of these when I was in junior high school. Howl´s Moving Castle and all of the Chrestomanci cycle (also on my shelves) will continue to be favorites for the rest of my life. RIP.

--Brian Jacques

Creator of Redwall in all its aspects and an author who taught me that having animals as main characters didn´t necessarily make a book a book for young children, but it could be for young adults too. Having the hares of Salamandastron shout "Eulaliaaa!" as a battle cry was the first time the name-I-could-have-had actually tickled my fancy. Nowadays, I still use Laia as a screenname, and remembering the hares still makes me smile. RIP.

Lolita 30 Day Challenge: Day 6

It´s been quite a while since I posted for this challenge!!

So, here we have it,  

Day 6: 10 Things you Can´t Live Without in lolita

1) Petticoats. Without them, it is impossible to achieve a "lolita shape" in skirts. Whether they´re poofy or flat, one or three, white or the colors of the rainbow, bell-shaped or A-line.....you need a petticoat for lolita.

2) A cute bag or purse. It doesn´t have to match the print of whatever you´re wearing, it can just match the colors....it just has to be a nice purse, doesn´t even have to be cutesey or specifically lolita. My favorite bags are the Usakumya bags (big surprise there, huh?), but to tell you the truth I very rarely wear mine out, due to their impractical storage space. I usually just take a regular nice purse with me.

3) Bows. In your hair, not on your dress. I like hairbows in headbands or just themselves as lolita accesories.

4) Tights. I´m of the tights-instead-of-socks team in lolita. I prefer them; they´re more comfortable and they eliminate the necessity of wearing bloomers.

5) Inspirational lolitas. They are the regular lolis who are out there, blogging or in photos and just inspiring everyone to go forth in fashion. 

6) Bonnets. To me, they are essential in lolita. I love them all; I think every lolita should have at least one soft halfbonnet in their wardrobe.....they´re so pretty. They are something that, nowadays, only lolita wear, and therefore symbolize "lolita fashion" to me in a way. So yes, they´re essential.

7) Creativity. Not everyone (including myself) can afford to buy an all-brand complete coord. In fact, sometimes that´s like taking the "easy way out" in my opinion, since it doesn´t require you to be particularly creative. I really admire those girls who take a dress (brand, offbrand, handmade, whatever) and then coord with offbrand and homemade accesories. Let´s all let our creativity shine!

8) Pocketwatches. I love these watches as accesories and as useful and cute ways to keep track of time. Pretty regular watches are nice accesories as well. You don´t even have to show it off, in my opinion, you can just keep it in your pocket--but it´ll still be cutely accesorizing. I seriously think that pocetwatches can work perfectly fine outside of "Alice" coords and steampunk outfits.

9) Tea. I can do without sweets in lolita meets and such (I haven´t been to any, but I expect that ´s the usual fare), but please don´t take away my tea. 

10) Decent shoes. This is an eternal quest. Will there ever be any "real lolita" shoe that is actually comfortable? I haven´t found any yet myself. My poor delicate feet have bruised and bled (literally) in hard lolita shoes (both Montreal and Bodyline). Are "burando" shoes any different? I somehow doubt it... This "must have" in lolita for me has been sadly unfulfilled...

Stickers!!

I just got a letter from a friend today!!!! It had stickerssssssss! Not just that, but stickers with liquid and glitter in them, like The ones Zeruda got! I´ve never seen stickers like these, they´re so adorable!!

The stickers came with a lovely note!!

16 of them, and all mine in their liquidy perfection!

Here are my two favorites:

The drink is winking at me!! >_<!!

The taco has a MOUSTACHE! It´s a winking moustacchioed taco!! With a hat! OMG so cute!

The moustacchioed taco is my absolute favorite. I can´t wait to put it on my cellphone (hopefully a new one, and soon). One of the sushi stickers is definitely going on my iPod.

Start of the year inspiration

Well, I went to bed quite late last night (even though I didn´t do anything particularly special).

However, there´s nothing that could stop me from getting up this morning in time to see what I see every year on television since I came back to Spain: The New Year Concert in Vienna by the Filarmonic Orchestra of Viena.

This year they had ballet dancers dancing live for some of the music pieces (again). Amazing! They also included Chaikovski for the first time. Nice! (Even though all of the Strauss are a pleasure to listen to, it´s nice to have some Chaikovski).

Enjoy!! (The music starts at 1:00)

The concert lasts quite awhile; the musicians are always so admirable. It´s my fervent hope that someday, before I die, I might see this concert live.