Meetup.com

Happy New Year!

It's been awhile since my last post. I wasn't sure what to write about! With the fresh scent of [new] New Years Resolutions in the air, I thought this topic might be helpful to some of you Resolution-ers.

If your New Years Resolution contains these words:
Meeting People 
New Friends 
Dating 
Staying busy 
New Hobby 
Getting involved with something 
Being active 
Find a new interest
Networking 
Wanting a Change

Then keep reading!!!!

I have recently been recommending this website to people, because it worked for me!
http://www.meetup.com/

Helps groups of people with shared interests plan meetings and form offline clubs in local communities around the world.

I heard some IU kids out here talking about this website to helo find something to do and make new friends after moving to LA. I thought it was a genius idea and I wish I had known about it sooner. Last year, I was in a rut for many months. I was lonely and needed a sense of community and some new friends out here. This website was exactly what I needed!

The site contains THOUSANDS (at least in LA) of groups based on every interest under the sun. You like hiking? BAM! Hundreds of hiking groups you could join. Ladies Nights? Dating? Reading? Networking groups? Parenting? THEY HAVE IT ALL!!!! There are currently 15.89 million members, 141,885 Meet Up Groups in 196 countries around the world. So there is something for everyone!

I signed up for meet up last year and decided to start with a group that was for ladies in their 20s. I thought making a new friend close to my age would be a good place to start. I attended a "Clothes Swap" event. They posted all the information about the event. You rsvp on the page and the event leader contacts you to make sure you aren't a psycho. haha Then she emailed me the address of where it was held.

The event was far away in Long Beach. I noticed other people were posting they wanted to carpool, so I contacted a girl named Hayley back. The ride to and from Long Beach really helped Hayley and I to get to know each other. The event was pretty cool, but not exactly what I expected. The lady in charge didn't seem to be in her 20s and other women had multiple children. Another lady just complained about being pregnant, and not fitting into the clothes we were swapping. So, that was kinda the thing I wanted to stay away from. (I'm no where near the mindset of getting married or having children). Besides that, I met some other cool chicks, who had fun trying on each others clothes. I donated what I wasn't able to swap and went home with 2 new dresses, a shirt, AND A NEW FRIEND!! =)

Luckily, Hayley and I live relatively close to each other so we were able to keep in touch. Today, she is one of my good friends who I hang out with on the reg. Word. The site definitely helped me tremendously and that was only ONE meet up!

So if you are looking for something to do, new friends, dating, find a new hobby, networking, etc THIS website is perfect for you! Check it out!
It worked for me, and I hope it works for you. xo

Daenerys Targaryen Costume: Khaleesi

Winter is Coming. 

So I decided to be an over achiever and make a Khaleesi costume from scratch for Halloween this year. It was not an easy task, and not cheap. First, I could not find a single person in the Los Angeles area that owned a sewing machine that I could borrow. So, I ended up buying a Brother CS6000i sewing machine from Amazon. It was originally about $450 and I got it for $150 because apparently September is "sewing month." Who Knew?!

After I finally got the machine to help us create this glorious costume, Kathryn Begle, who was the brains behind this operation, and I went to Jo-Ann Fabrics to buy all the fabrics, muslin and thread we needed. Luckily, Kathryn already owned an impressive sewing kit with pins, needles, seam ripper, etc. The picture above shows the sewing machine I bought, the burlap fabric for the top and front section of the skirt, the tan fabric for the main part of the skirt, a light fabric for the top of the skirt and a small piece of dark brown fabric I used for the gloves.

For the top, I bought a cheap strapless bra and Kathryn sewed the burlap fabric to it so I would have some structure to it. I braided strips of the burlap and used that as the lining at the top and for the strap to go around my neck. I had 2 layers of burlap sewed onto the front part and cut them unevenly into a V shape to look similar to Khaleesi's outfit. I used this website: http://screencapped.net/tv/gameofthrones/ to find screen captured shots of Khaleesi wearing different outfits and from different angles. These were my main inspirations.

The Top

 

The Skirt

 

Pants

From Macy's

 

Gloves

I distressed the burlap using a seam ripper. I would randomly cut parts and pull out the burlap to make it look snagged and worn. I tried using make up to give the dirty look to my skirt, but it clearly looked like make up smeared on it. So, I went outside and put dirt in a cup and got it damp and whipped or dabbed it onto my skirt to make it look dirty.
I went all out and made the gloves that Khaleesi wears, like once, in the show. I used snaps on one side of the gloves to make them fit around my wrists.

The Wig was by far the most expensive part of the entire costume. I reallllly wanted to make my own hair white, because I knew it would have looked way better. I tried using soft chalk, but it didn't really show up on my hair. I also tried using white hair spray, but it just made it look gray and sticky. So, I knew I would end up having to buy a wig, sadly.

I went to Hollywood Wigs off Hollywood Blvd after reading great reviews on Yelp. (I have also written one myself). The lady there, Christine, knows her stuff and was very helpful. I was able to email her pictures of Khaleesi's wig and hairstyle. She was able to style it by putting in 2 braids for me and loose curls. I thought it looked great from the back, but kinda mullet-like / old fashioned judge-like from the front.

I even had a baby dragon! =)

My Washi Tape Wall

Hi again!

Remember I said I'd have another project to post using Washi Tape? This is it!

What is Washi Tape, you ask? (I didn't know either...until recently).

Washi 和紙 is a style of Japanese paper tape that started in Japan, but manufacturing has now spread throughout the world. Washi comes from wa meaning Japanese and shi meaning paper, and the term is used to describe paper made in the traditional manner, regardless of where it’s manufactured.

It is really growing in popularity. Washi tape comes in so many colors and patterns. I bought a Washi Tape Pack from Cutetape.com. Also, Etsy.com has many shops selling Washi Tape as well. You can use Washi tape for decorating just about anything because, like masking tape, it is not permanent. Many people use it for wrapping presents as well.

 

I bought the Classiky Washi Tape 12 pack because I loved the variety of colors. I found inspiration to use it on my wall from this lady's blog: annkelle.com. I love her site! It's so bright and colorful...which is right up my alley.

Like her, I did not plan out the color order. I liked the randomized colors. She also pointed out that washi Tape is very forgiving. So true. It stays sticky even if you have to peel it off a few times to get it straight. It isn't rip-able like regular masking tape. I used scissors to cut the ends. 

I love how my wall turned out! It brings a splash of color to my room without the commitment of paint.  It's a great way of decorating an apartment! I'm already planning on using my Washi tape in other parts of my apartment, if my roommate gives me permission. ;)