getting back in the game, let's talk fandom

Hi there, sort of boring...err...Sunday.

Lately, I find myself amassing a lot of things fandom (asian pop music, mostly) so this alone, I feel, warranted a post of it's own. This still has something to do with Taipei's trip last year, October 5-7, 2019. One of the groups mentioned here was the one I went to Taipei for.

A word of warning? This post is photo heavy although most of them aren't high quality...much.

1. Pentagon - Thumbs Up Mini-Album 
I purchased this one two years ago but it came early last year. I think it kept getting delayed. 
I'm not a huge fan of the main single, Naughty Boy, but the B-sides like Thumbs Up among others, are what make this album more full and satisfying for me. This came with a Jinho photocard and an invitation to a Pentagon event with Universe that I couldn't go to because, well...I'm in the Philippines. Maybe next time. I'll definitely try to make it to the Cube Ent. cafe when I am there around Seoul though. Hopefully soon. I've been hearing news that it's more difficult now to go to Seoul. :( They've tightened up some or so.

My favorite track from this album? Thumbs up, currently. I have it on eternal repeat. Kind of.

I am amazed by the all around-ness of Kpop albums granted this is my first Kpop-related purchase. I love the Japanese ones more considering I have lol's Fire! single, Miura Daichi's Right Now single and more (my Da-iCE purchases are also coming in this year so...) but the South Korean pop music stuff are definitely in a league of their own with album booklets that double as photo books. Meanwhile, I have to spend separately for Da-iCE's photobooks and more. RIP wallet, when it comes to Jpop. But Kpop also just about kills the monthly salary/wage as well. Life of an eternal fangirl...

2. Sunggyu's Post Cards and Photocards 
I got these from Shopee thanks to the bff and someone who likely went to Gyu's last concert, Shine, way way back before he went away to serve at the SK military/army forces. (He's back now after 18 months of being away from us so YAAYYYY!!!) Anyway, these are, like, DIVINE because I currently have an obsession with platinum-haired Kim Sunggyu. If only I could rock the same hair color as well as he does. /lesigh.

Infinite's Kim Sunggyu is a current and still ongoing obsession of mine because of not only his full album, Shine, but also because of his variety TV work. The Genius, for one, is one show I will keep on repeat because of how smart he is on there. And of course, many others.

As of this writing, one of the photocards is at the back of my phone and on a wallet I sometimes take with me on whatever trips out. Hmn...

3. Pentagon - Genie:Us
2019 was the year when I amassed everything Pentagon and this was the second purchase I had since the previous one, Thumbs Up! They rarely let me down music-wise hence why I've been constantly getting their mini-albums or so.
Shalala is likely my favorite from here along with the music video for it. And I love, LOVE Round 1 as well though just a bit lukewarm with Spring Snow. I love the stages for the latter though.
As per usual, this came with cool stuff plus an invitation to an event with Universes (their fans' collective name) but alas, as I am in the Philippines...no way can I ever get to that one. Also, it comes with a post card of, I think, Shinwon's arm in a raincoat or so. Hmn...

It also came with some sort of bookmark. I think this one's Kino or...someone else. Hui? I'm not sure. It could also be Yuto though. I'm amazed by the inside of the booklet slash photobook. It's pop-up style and so cute and pretty!

I'm not sure who I got as a photocard for this one. I forgot...I'll unearth it somewhere later.

4. Pentagon - SUM(ME:R)

Hands down, my current favorite of the bunch and therefore the one Pentagon album on eternal repeat for me on a daily-ish basis.

The contents of this one is the best and even my friend/s confirm so. If there's anything I'm devoted to, it's finding gems like this mini-album that's summery and sunshiney and warm. (I actually became a fan of Golden Child because of this...if that's any sort of help or indication of...stuff...) I love everything in this album from 접근금지 (Humph!) to Round 2. But my favorite will have to be 판타지스틱 (Fantasystic, I think?) as it is the best BOP in there~

And whoopy yay! That's a Yuto photocard, yes, and a Yanan post card. I kind of miss him, yes.

5. Pentagon - Happiness

Not pictured but this came to me from Japan. And to anyone interested in getting Japan releases from Pentagon among others, you can go here and request it: @kg_0917. 

I haven't listened much to it but know that I enjoy the music video/pv for Happiness a lot. It's sooo mood for me along with Da-iCE's Damn It. The freebie is a poster and it is immaculate. I'd like it framed, by the by along with other things.

6. Miscellaneous everything from Japan including Da-iCE's Fake Show single (also got Da-iCE's Best album...)

Da-iCE. When it comes to them, I'm usually Hanamura Sota-biased so most I got were Sota everything including a clear file or two I have no idea what to use for. I thought they were big-sized bromides. Hmn...

Also, some fashion magazines, err, well, a Vivi because I love Vivi. And finally, a Junon! Yay! Another one is coming in the mail yet along with a secondhand but still functioning Instax cam I got at a good deal. Er...low price of 3000 JPY! A seriously good deal, like...seriously. 

Not pictured, Da-iCE's Best album that came after. It's a 2-4 CDs in one sort of thing safely nestled now in my music fandom corner nook of the bedroom self with the others.

7. Golden Child's Re:Boot full-length album

My first Woollim Entertainment purchase. Yay! This is also the most recent purchase of mine that was just delivered in early this month.

It's not the whole thing and these are just pages of the booklet plus that Jaehyun photocard but I was awestruck by how tall this one was. It literally took up my shelf dedicated to the fandom stuff and...it also towered over three of my Pentagon albums that were...comparatively just a tad bit smaller.

Anyway, these are just pages showing my favorites: Bomin looking regal, there's also Joochan in pretty pink hair (congratulations on him rejoining Golden Child after recovering from injury! this is late but yeah...it still stands), and Sungyoon/Y.

What I liked about this one? It came with a 2020 calendar so this pretty much stopped me from buying or looking for one of Takeuchi Ryoma's or some other as I have already retired Pentagon's Season's Greetings from 2019. Problem? The calendar doesn't have anything I can use to hang it somewhere to unlike Pentagon's Season's Greetings. I'm too afraid to ruin it so it's just sitting at a desk as of this moment, still unopened.

Still others I got for fandom's sake and being a random fangirl, Infinite Kim Sunggyu's platinum haired 20cm doll I have yet to find clothes for. It came with freebies so, yay~

Others to come soon: the Produce 101 Japan fanbook, Da-iCE's Back to Back single, JO1's (from Produce 101 Japan) single/s I haven't ordered yet. I also have yet to get Produce 101 Japan's Fanbook plus or volume 2. And JO1's single, Protostar. It's for pre-order yet and comes in three types so RIP money. Hmn...I'll pre-order this one, maybe next month. 

Yep, I've been spending so much on fandom lately that I need to get a higher paying job so, yeah, I'm going to toil on this one tomorrow. I have somewhere to be after the work shift tomorrow so wish me luck? It's for the future of myself I have in mind...yet.

blood red, cherry red

slipdress and blazer, vintage. clutch, ninewest. boots, rubi by cotton on via zalora (similar). ribbon tri-strand choker, verano ph via zalora (similar).

Happy hearts day, y'all! 

I'm settling down to music videos and stage performances by my favorite men/boys tonight. It's uhmn...well, more than my traditional Valentines' day tradition along with watching Da-iCE concert/s here and there to name one (or catching up to Kamen Rider Build as I left it off at episode 13 or so a couple nights ago...), it's an every night sort of thing since the MVs and stage performances are in a playlist on my windows media player. LOL. Anyway, I think this is the best way to cap the Hearts' day celebration with. I'm just missing organic/healthy dark chocolate eating somehow. The sad thing is that I don't have any of these at hand. Hmn...a strawberry zinfandel would be nice to have tonight, though, while on this MVs and stage performances marathon watching. I'm pretty sure I'll move on in a bit and play catch up with Kamen Rider Build and the kdrama, Radio Romance anyway. I've only finished 2 episodes of the latter. The reason I picked up said kdrama is thanks to Yoon Doo Joon from Highlight but that could have easily been very predictable as Highlight is my favorite kpop boygroup after Da-iCE from Japan.

For tonight, I have two tracks I love that are more about self-love and freedom than they are about dreamy romantic love:

I think these are perfect for winding down, chilling to tonight, especially when one has been out say, working or attending classes. AAA's MisaChia's MV for Jewel is cut short at 4 minutes or so but the whole track is beautiful on the Way of Glory album. It is, no doubt, my favorite so far from AAA after years of them volleying from multi-genre-d AAA to purely EDM AAA and back to being multi-genre. 

I love, love, loooovee really positive, cheerful songs (Jpop has a lot of these but Kpop is catching up as well) and those especially about self-love. Really freeing bops are also my thing so Faky's Somewhere We'll Know is an eternal favorite where that goes. I'd also add E-girls' Kitakaze to Taiyou (The North Wind and the Sun) here but I sort of remember posting that one just a few days or a week ago or so, so I'm going to leave that out in this one this time. Such songs help keep my head above the water, cheer me up some and help me fake it when I feel like needing to fake it. I guess there's nothing like girl power where pop music goes. I'm usually more into the male idol group side of things: Da-iCE, Magic Prince, PrizmaX, Choutokkyuu/Bullettrain, Flowback, Infinite, Highlight and Golden Child but tonight I will let those men/boys rest and go with the girls since it's hearts' night anyway and I need a friendly reminder that I love myself more than I love those males in the idol groups I mentioned. Haha. Oh, and even music. Though usually it's music first for me over self. They can co-exist well together in my book though,if you catch my drift here. That's the beauty of the self and music. 

red for the month of hearts

top, mixed berry dumaguete city. skirt, vintage/thrifted. boots, something borrowed via zalora ph. bag, giani bernini via macy's.

A lot of red is coming out so you could say I'm in the mood for the month of hearts. February 14 is Valentines' day. The irony is, I don't really care for that much commercialized day although I like the idea of the Japanese and South Korean females giving their fellow female and male friends and significant others chocolates on that said day. Valentines' day is only really fun for me when I read about it in manga (Japanese comics) and watch it on high school-themed jdramas and animes. Otherwise, it's really just a normal day for me.

What do you have planned for this month of hearts? I have a ton. 1: Pyeongchang Winter Olympics is here and everyone's arriving at the Olympics' venue and I just saw clip earlier on Twitter that my favorite male figure skater from Japan, Uno Shoma, has just made it to South Korea. Yay! Go Japan for figure skating, males! 2: Highlight's Yang Yoseob is releasing a solo mini album this month...sometime the middle of this month. I. AM. ECSTATIC. Just like your regular music otaku (music geek but I'm really more of a pop music trash especially in the East Asian region so it goes wherever...) and male idol groups otaku...er...fangirl...well, let's just say this excitement is quite normal in my case, especially. 3: it's the Chinese New Year next week, I'm wishing we'd had moon cake or some other at home. We're not really full Chinese, however. Just a very, very small part Chinese. Lastly, 4: Men's volleyball tourney is ongoing on UAAP season 80 as of this time and I'm looking forward to how my school/university's team, Ateneo de Manila men's volleyball team will fare there. I'd like for them to make it to the finals and win it all again this UAAP sporting season. I have a pretty full February 2018 that I'm currently looking forward to I don't really have any need for someone to go on a date with on the 14th. Yang Yoseob will be the stand in for that for me although I'm not much a fan of ballads from him and winter (a lot of his photos for the mini album are winter-themed so I suppose all of it will be about winter...ugh). Doesn't matter, we'll be getting good music from him anyway. And of course, his adorable, rather adorkable self on everywhere. I'm looking forward to how he will fare in the music shows and their accompanying music charts more, to be quite honest. I hope he does well.

Today's music is:

Have I shared this on here yet? No? Was it just the same group's Sea I did so? Right? Okay, then. Golden Child. Golden Child. Golden Child. They're also known as GNCD or my favorite, GolCha/Gol-Cha. I'm currently very much loving every mini album that comes from them. They've just released two since they debuted late last year-ish but those two mini-albums are quite solid and consistent to their own style of easy going tropical/chill deep house-backed pop music bops and really solid, still groovy mid-tempo and ballad tracks. Needless to say, both mini-albums from these very young baby boys (in kpop idol and kpop music fandom, to me, because I'm waaayyy older than these boys/men are...) are worth checking out. Very worth checking out. I was able to read a tweet in passing they had reached the top of the chart/s of Tower Records in Japan and it's, in my opinion, an honor they so deserve for releasing such good pop music. The thing is, about Golden Child, they have yet to debut in Japan. Should they debut there soon this year, I'm sure they'll be quite popular considering their the feel and uber good contents of their first mini-album, Gol-Cha! and second mini-album, Miracle.

cropped

photos 1-2: shortalls, cotton on. cropped top, susto the label via zalora ph. heels, zalora ph. bag, giani bernini via macy's. photos 3-4: top and skirt, forever21. clutch, ninewest. boots, rubi by cotton on via zalora ph (similar but not really).

Tuesday and Wednesday's outfits in one post because the home didn't have any working internet connection until today. This usually happens when the months come with 31 days in them. And yes, a couple of cropped tops came out the past two days and they're fast becoming my favorites. The black version of the white forever21 top was worn with a slipdress to watch a local (Filipino) film, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes (English trans.: The Two Mrs. Reyes) with the uncle in SM Premier here. It was a fun film and definitely has a whole lot of quotes to check out. It's one very quotable, very very fun film I can easily relate with because apparently, in real life, a lot of my crushes aren't at all straight. Haha. Well, life. It happens. I'll expand on that one on some other time I feel like doing so... (Count on me to never let this happen or come true. LOL. ....reason being, I'm a very private person...and I'd like to remain that way.)

Anyway, yes, I'm getting quite attached to the cropped silhouettes somehow. I'm looking to add more when I can. Susto the Label has a lot of them I like, no, more like, love that are quite on the affordable end. I haven't tired of stalking that page on Zalora yet. It's Krista speak for: Susto the Label is becoming a top favorite local brand for me. This, although the middle button of the top I got from them can't be locked in anymore because the the hole for it on the opposite side came loose... Hmn... I'll try to get it fixed some other time.

Today's music: 

I've been addicted to this one for a long while now I usually have it on repeat on itunes. Hah. The music video is also so pretty I love it but sadly, Avex only uploaded the short version like they usually do for this group, among others (including their own groups, AAA and lol) so yes, it leaves us who aren't at all in Japan disappointed and hanging. E-girls is really more my aesthetic than AKB48 and their sister groups however I'm someone who's not so picky (although I may come across super picky sometimes) with pop music. I hardly really discriminate or learned not to discriminate so much where that goes and as such am one who can recognize good bops as they come my (out) way so I do recognize AKB48 tracks like Koisuru Fortune Cookie as such. It's just that, I'm more biased on the more normal, less really super cute female idoly, and the more fashion forward/modern, classy female and male idol groups. This actually explains why my fandoms are: Avex's AAA, Da-iCE, lol, SOLIDEMO, CREAM, etc.; Sony Japan's Flowback; LDH's E-girls (I think they're not called that anymore, though), Flower, Dream (they disbanded, insert crying emoji here), Happiness; for the South Korean side: Around Us Entertainment's Highlight; Woollim Entertainment's Infinite and Golden Child; and at times, Cube Entertainment's BtoB and Pentagon.

By the by, tonight, I'm currently listening to and drowning to Infinite's new full record/album, Top Seed and it's beautiful, from the first or opening track to the third. Tell Me and Synchronise are my top favorites from this one. I might just become a part-time Inspirit apart from already being a part-time Light and full-time a-I... Hmn...I'll think about this some more...

daisy print

slip dress and blazer, vintage. clutch, diy from a shoulder bag that's a christmas gift. boots, something borrowed via zalora ph. 

Two things vintage, two things mostly new. It's a balance in dressing up that I quite like. Or probably even love. But, to be honest, I just really feel lazy thus the ribbed slip dress in dark blue with daisy prints came out. It's been hot and sunny today, humid like it usually is here, rain or shine so I've been itching to get into dresses and shorts and/or skirts so this is a welcome thing to wear today. Mostly, around the house.

Speaking of vintage pieces of clothing, I visited thrift shops at the city center (Divisoria) this morning before proceeding to do a bit of grocery shopping at Savemore that's only a few minutes' walk away from there. I found two things I liked: a pair of Levis jeans in medium---clearly boyfriend style and with bits of ripping here and there---at just 100 Php; and a cheery yellow dress that's flower-printed and just so darn cute and thinly cozy, perfect for this humid climate, that's about 50 Php more than the price of the Levis jeans. I did not get to buy either. The latter was still quite expensive for thrift shop prices for me, the former did not look like the perfect boyfriend jeans to me but it does seem to make a good pair for casual trips out, errands and more. I'll probably come back there some other time soon, maybe on the next few Mondays when I'm done with personal errands and the likes for the morning.

Today's music is something uncharacteristic of me:

I'm not really one for female idol jpop music outside of what E-girls from LDH release. I just got into this one from AKB48 and one of their sister groups, Bangkok, Thailand's BNK48 because it kept playing in the background last Saturday, while I was watching MNL48's top 200 girls being cut down to 75 that are to vie for the coveted spots that make up MNL48. While I was looking around the thrift stores and doing the groceries earlier today, this song kept playing in my head I even tried to hum it softly. This is how infectious said song can be...to me anyway. It'll likely be a while before I get unattached and/or less obsessed or fixated with this one. I'm surprised though...I actually am liking BNK48 when I thought the opposite. I'm not too into female idol groups in Japan and everywhere else in Asia like these two but I can't dismiss this song, Koisuru Fortune Cookie, as it is a pretty good bop/

I'm keeping tabs on MNL48 on the noontime show, Showtime on the Philippine national TV network, ABS-CBN more because I'm a Japanophile and would want to see how this one turns out but not because I'm an AKB48/Akimoto groups' fan. I'm not really an AKB48 and/or general Akimoto groups' fan. I do like the two second generation of AKB48 girls from Team K though. They are Oshima Yuko and Akimoto Sayaka. I like the former because I was able to watch her in a jdrama that airs on Mondays (they are getsu jdramas, right? I forget what they're usually called...), Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyu (English translation: The Reason I Can't Find My Love), and the latter, because I found her to be charming in a reality talk show with one of my favorite Japanese actors, Chiba Yudai (since Tensou Sentai Goseiger, a super sentai series from eons ago). I haven't really been following both of these ladies since so I'm out of the loop as to their current gigs/activities.

I'm also not one for the really kawaii (cute!) Akimoto groups' stage outfits but I do like their hairstyles and hair accessories. The Japanese really do not disappoint where cuteness/kawaiiness is concerned with hair, clothes and the likes. They just know how to package their ladies in the entertainment business, looks-wise, without resorting to them going under the knife (plastic surgery, so to speak). This is what I like about the Japanese entertainment industry and why I prefer it to the South Korean entertainment industry I don't have much of a feel for. Looking at them through their live concert uploads on youtube make me want to stock up on a whole lot of the really cute, very random hair accessories. Haha.

it remains cold and gloomy most days of January

top, mixed berry in dumaguete city. jeans, zara (old, from 2-3 seasons ago). bag, giani bernini via macy's. boots, something borrowed via zalora.

Cropped and fitting is quickly becoming a favorite silhouette right up there with skintight skinnies when it comes to jeans. ....and you might be seeing me with jeans more often in this space for this year since I started the daily-ish personal style posts with one. Yeah...this won't be lasting for longer. I'll be back to wearing cutoffs/jean or denim shorts in a few days or so. It's tough to get out of wearing them and going for the ones that offer longer coverage of the legs when it's indian summer hot here 365 days a year. It's just...we've been having colder days still this month with another low pressure area on its way to our region.

To be quite honest, I'm not all too fond of the rubbery faux leather material this pair of boots are made of and have been thinking whether to return and get it exchanged for another rather more presentable pair that's not faux leather of this kind. Rubber-like faux leather or not, however, this seemed a good deal and would work for the rainy days so there's merit to keeping it rather than getting said pair exchanged. I'm pretty sure this pair will be worn out and all by the end of this year or so.

Music for the day (or night since it's night time here):

I have this on repeat for a long...while now. It's definitely addicting. A true ear candy. I'm becoming a Cube Entertainment (for Beast back in the day, some BtoB and some Pentagon), Around Us Entertainment (yay, Highlight!), and Woollim Entertainment (Infinite most of the time, Golden Child on some days but mostly for Sea) fan where South Korean pop, kpop is concerned. Speaking of kpop, I just watched a few of the documentary of Bigbang's latest world tour on E! News Asia and it failed to move me although I acknowledge generally how huge Bigbang is everywhere. It's just that...I'll stick with my Highlight and Infinite boys where kpop is concerned.

For the Jpop side of things, which is admittedly my first love since Globe's Feel Like Dance happened to me when I was little (think, really early 90s era electro-dance music), Da-iCE has just released Tokyo Merry Go Round single. So, yay! Clap. Clap. Unfortunately, the a-side had me feeling short as it reminds me of retro-AAA sound (think AAA's Kuchibiru Kara Romantica, Dangerous Gamble from the Way of Glory album of last year). I'm impartial to retro-sounding tracks. They're not really my favorite but they're alright to me so this was just a so-so a-side for me along with Watch Out and Everybody to name a few from Da-iCE's growing discography. I guess the longer you stay with a certain boy group with a fast growing discography, the more you realize there are just certain singles, full and mini albums that you think they'd be better off without or those you just least like. But you stick with them anyway because they continue to serve you good bops and some superb ballads here and there anyway. That's how I felt and continue to feel with AAA and now, it's how I felt (since three to four years after their debut as a boy group) and am feeling with Da-iCE. They are from the same entertainment company in Japan, Avex. The upside of TMGR single is...the b-side. When I don't like the a-side or main track of a single from this group, this follows with both AAA and lol as well, I default to the b-side or the coupling. The b-side or coupling is usually better when the a-side or main track of the single doesn't go down so well on a couple of listens. For TMGR, the couplings are: わるぐち(Waraguchi), a theme to a jdrama whose title escapes me, and the acoustic version of せつなくて(Setsunakute) from the I'll Be Back single of so long ago that is now sung by all 5 of the Da-iCE boys. I love わるぐち the most but others will refute this and say せつなくて here is better. I say both are alright, though. My personal bias just leans on わるぐち more where sound quality is concerned pitting all the contents of this single with each other with. I know, redundant and confusing, that last statement is.

Hmn...I'm beginning to think I picked the wrong date to make a Zalora purchase since the End of the Season Sale is still ongoing where the prices have gone even lower from before... From this time until the 28th of this month of January, one only has to spend 1,500 Php to get 15% off (using the code: END15) or spend a minimum of 2,000 Php to get 25% off (using the code: END25).  No matter. I'll take advantage of the next sales some other time. They have items on sale that's worth looking into from time to time anyway so it's okay to not be looking into sales like these (though they, too are worth it...) at this time. This is what I find fun when stalking stuff at Zalora from time to time...

it's cold thanks to the storm but i'm missing the sun and heat by a lot

shirt, dkny jeans. shorts/cutoffs, secondhand lowry's farm. heels, zalora (similar). over the knee/knee high socks, marshall's (i think? i forgot already...haha.). bag, giani bernini via macy's.

It was near impossible to get a good photo of this outfit thanks to the sun's glare despite it being a cloudy, cold day earlier today, around 5 or so near-sundown. Anyway...yes. Finally. This long sleeved shirt in black has been brought out for the sort of cold day we had today. It's been like this for a couple of days now thanks to a tropical depression upon us, local name: Urduha. I know, what kind of name is that? But that's what our local meteorologists here name the storms coming by and going, nullifying their international names anyway. Also, it's a system of tracking how many storms come by the country so it's pretty useful despite how so, so local and often times tacky the names sound. Days like this, I'm missing the sun. I was hoping this would be a more tropical holiday season but we have a tropical depression slash storm slash typhoon upon us so I now have a good picture of what cold winters everywhere look and feel like sans the lack of snow in this side of the world.

Ah...the holidays. I still want to spend this one in Camiguin Island this time, preferably Mantigue Island. A tropical holiday out or some other, is in order. I really can't survive in the cold too long. I get antsy and start craving for the sun, sand and surf...err...sea. Well...hmn... It's still going to be cold in the said island I named but anything is better than being stuck here...in the dismal cold and on and off rains. 

Today's music is:

I've been stuck on this track for a long time now and I still am. I love the play of words in the lyrics and how it's a mix of the kansai-ben and the kanto-ben in there. Dreams Come True is an awesome jpop band and well, Da-iCE is just as awesome for covering this classic.

Earlier today, I was discussing with friends on social media (twitter, friends = fellow fangirls) how BTS' (a kpop boygroup) fans are attacking Arashi and their fandom in light of said group making a debut on a music show in Japan. Being a primarily jpop fan as I was never a kpop fan to begin with---I only became one for Highlight [formerly known as Beast] and occasionally, Infinite---I find it funny how they have the gall/guts to do that. On social media, twitter in particular, no less. Everyone in the jpop fandom know Johnny's and Associates' lot. To me, as a non-J&A acts' fan (I've established myself eons ago as an Avex JP fangirl, since becoming an on/off AAA fangirl), J&A is notorious for banning those they perceive as threats to their own acts on Music Station, a regular music show on Japanese TV, and Kohaku Uta Gassen, an annual music concert also televised. Other than that, J&A has monopoly of the Oricon charts too when it comes to their groups releasing music. Anyway, knowing this and still being into jpop, I learned to ignore petty fan wars such as the ones started by the BTS fans against Arashi and their massive fandom. I also learned to ignore the pettiness of the participating Japanese entertainment companies on their TV (music shows) and others. I don't even care much for the Oricon charts. I've been boycotting Kohaku Uta Gassen when pretty much a lot of international jpop fangirls watch it on live stream yearly. And I certainly don't follow Music Station. All I really care about is whether ANation and Swish gets more following or what. Those two, especially Anation, are the ones that matter to the Avex JP fandom. 

As for kpop...I just cannot really get into how messy the fandom there is while fans of jpop, like me, learned to cope with how J&A monopolizes basically everything where that kind of music and entertainment is concerned in Japan. Fanwars are...well...pretty lame and I'm beyond that already. I just enjoy whatever music I enjoy and whichever artist it'd be that's providing it. To the jpop/pop music in general otaku (jp for enthusiast or fanatic) like me, what matters more is music and the artists are, well, just there to provide it for me/us. Anyway, I think the ones starting the fanwars are new to the kpop fandom...or if they're not, well, they just suck as a person/fan and are quite used to being an embarrassment to their fandom, the idols/artists they "support". Fangirl/fanboy ethics here somehow need to reviewed and set or something like it. Yeah...I don't know either.

And...it's t minus 4 days to the Christmas party at home with people, not necessarily family. It's a company party. Socializing isn't really my thing...I dread it rather than look forward to it. Hello, social/general anxiety...by then.

indian summer hot end of the year holiday season

top, mixed berry dumaguete city. shortall, cotton on. boots, rubi by cotton on via zalora (similar but not really). bag, ninewest. sunglasses, dad's.

This holiday season, we're experiencing a heatwave. This makes me want to spend most of it pool- or beach-side. I hope I get the chance to do so one day during the Christmas and New Year holidays... 

I like the black, blue and red combination when it comes to dressing up. A pop of red always works for me when the daily outfit ends up looking pretty dull. What's even sweeter about this top is it's cropped but just by a bit.

What I currently have playing:

Hmn...this is weird...the music video would not show when I do a search on it on the attach video feature Blogger has. There's no problem when I look it up on Youtube's official site, however. ....and yes, I love my mannequins, RiRi and LuLa *insert heart-eyes emojis here*

for the weary and everything, I bring something cute and fun in the music section, yes. yay!

tank, bench ph. skirt, vintage. boots, rubi by cotton on (they're gusset boots long gone from last season or two but this is similar. bag, giani bernini (via macy's). cat ear ring & arrow necklace, f21.

It's been a crazy few weeks at home and out and thus the reason for not much updates since the 9th of this month or so. Personal and family life are insane right now. This, I won't go indepth with. I want to keep real life drama as far away from this escape pod/space of mine as much as I can to keep my sanity in check.

Anyway, a couple of things I've been playing non-stop via youtube:

Yes, I'm aware I've been blogging one too many things on kpop. I've been trying to avoid this one but in the end, I couldn't. Now, I find myself addicted to anything cute from Infinite (Man In Love is old being from 2013...), cute and sunny and cheery from their younger boy group siblings Golden Child (Sea fits the bill! I could lose myself in this for quite a long time...putting it on loop. lol.) and all things cute, positive and fun from Highlight as well as their really pretty ballads. I also like some of Infinite's Sunggyu's solos. I've been a casual Nell fan since stumbling on Ocean of Light from a favorite actor's trip to Hawaii music video thing. Nell is right up my alley as I am a fan of american bands with a similar vibe, OneRepublic and The Fray, as well as a lot of European (mostly UK?) alternative rock. 

The past couple of weeks have been so crazy these two music videos or songs have been my respite from it. Gotta keep oneself sane and happy somehow with everything gloomy happening left and right. This is one of those times in life where I'm really thankful for being a kpop and jpop fan. Pop music is life and love! *insert heart everything/emojis here...*

As for everything Jpop: Da-iCE is releasing a single in January 2018 (yaaayyy!!! It's so close already!) and lol's Nanana is about to be released early next month. Avex Japan never fails to give me something to look forward to when the year comes to an end. This was the case last year and 2017 stayed pretty bright for me despite well, my personal issues here and there among others.

Also, AAA's New Year Party will be done jointly with Da-iCE this year. YEEEEEESSSSSSS!!! I'm PSYCHED FOR THIS! It's things like this that I'm still basically alive and breathing for~

On a rather different note (but still connected to j- and k-pop), Infinite's Man In Love is a reminder to myself that my sunny, cheery, fashionisto(?) type of guy is quite a very rare pokemon to find. I might as well marry a k- or j-pop male idol star...haha. I can only wish...

I'm not going to lie, I'm not really fond of the time when a year is about to come to a close. Something about it is always gloomy although ideally, it should be pretty festive. Also, fall and winter in places around the world with four seasons...ugh...nope. No, thank you.  I need sun 24/7, 365 days a year. This amoeba needs life under the sun to thrive or else dim things happen... (also, the hotter, the better. I can live, then. Haha.) Then again, I also need pools and the really beautiful beaches and island paradises like plants need water and sun so...yep.

lace on lace

lace t, from mum (some Korean brand...tag says Savage?). skirt, secondhand/vintage. wedges, primadonna ph. purse/wristlet, coach.

Lace on lace today. Well, not the skirt but the bralette and t. The t feels like a bodysuit as it molds to the body well. I'm not particularly fond of lace ts like this but it could work, too, I suppose.

Here is something I'm pretty excited about:

It's coming out next month, if I read the release date on their staff's twitter account right. It's such a happy, happy, HAPPY song for the winter season (in Japan, not here in the Philippines because, y'know...it's eternally summer here).

saturday, let's play

dress & blazer, vintage. bag, giani bernini (via macy's). heels, zalora (similar). socks, marshall's (I think...? I don't remember anymore...)

Feeling playful on a Saturday because it is a Saturday. Except it's gloomy-ish with cloudy weather but it's alright. It's perfect beach weather...sadly, I'm not in one though they are close, like, just a drive or so away, when here. 

Today's music mood, Faky - Sugar Sweet:

I am not entirely sure why the preview shows up and not the full video when Avex on youtube uploaded it eons ago... If this music teaser/preview makes you want to see the music video and listen to the music in full, you can just look Faky's Suga Sweet up on the site.

fairylike

dress, zara. boots, rubi by cotton on. bangles, from souvenir shop in dumaguete city and vintage. bag, kohl's (? I'm not sure...)

This Zara dress hasn't seen the light of day since I acquired it from the year end/season end sale around late 2015 to early 2016. This was basically two or three seasons ago. I've only taken it out of its hanger, from the rack with the most pieces I get most wear from on a daily basis, today. And I've just removed it's tag today as well. I know, really weird, right? I have the habit of keeping some pieces I get that I find I really like still tagged and left hanging on a rack in the bedroom until the mood and the occasion calls for me to get them out and finally wear them out with. I'm pretty sure I was able to get something else from that particular sale apart from this one but I forget what that was...hmn...

And in fandom news: there's only 5 days left until Highlight (the only male quintet kpop group I really stan where that part of pop is concerned...) releases Celebrate. Needless to say, I am pumped! I can't wait to listen to what this is going to be like. Highlight, since their period as Beast, has been delivering really well on the music front since time immemorial. Also, for the Jpop side of things, I've been obsessing with Da-iCE's 君色 (romaji: Kimi Iro) single/EP since last night. I love, love, loooove the b-side that is Fly Higher as much as I do the title track, 君色 (Kimi Iro). One is as good as the other. Yudai and Sota's solos are really, really good too. I rarely do get disappointed by any Da-iCE release. I'm finding lately that I rarely get disappointed by lol's releases as well. I suppose this is me getting used to anything Avex Japan, which is the main Japanese entertainment management agency I'm really into.

And so, until the next post, I leave you with this pretty, pretty (I'm not at all sure if I've attached this one to a previous post last month...it's taking me long nowadays to update this space with things for personal life/issues reasons...):

an ivory shapeless not-so-mess

love lace insert balloon sleeves dress, zalora (in blush). heels, zalora (old). leaf necklace, forever21. bag, gianni bernini.

This zalora dress came with the two-piece swimwear set from Something Borrowed from last week's orders. It's as magical as I dreamt it would be in real life. Confession: I've actually been eyeing this one for so long from the site but only bit when the price went down to about 700 Php. It's currently perfect lounge piece for me now. The sleeves' wrist opening can be tightened but I somehow prefer it undone. It keeps the dress magical that way, giving it the illusion of being, well, shapeless. The inside is fully lined so nothing shows. I have a feeling that apart from being a lounge piece, this will be sort of party or get together dress for me this last quarter of the year, too. Well, we shall see with that...

Lately, the days are getting shorter. It's technically fall in other areas, I suppose but here, to us here in the tropical belt, this signals the long countdown to the Christmas season. I guess I got this dress at the right time to wear for the colder, not really that chilly days.

Is it time to start looking for dresses for parties here and there now then? I suppose so. I'm not sure if I'll be doing that, however, as after acquiring this and the two-piece swimwear, I'm most likely abstaining from buying until next year. I'll make do with what I have in the wardrobe like I always do again. Maximizing the use of everything in a pretty limited wardrobe is creatively, resourcefully fun and at the same time, quite thrifty. Nothing new to me as it's what I'd been doing for awhile now.

Moving onto fandom everything I miss updating about: my pop music mood today is Cream's Change album released last year. The title track is really pretty cute...err...very fun everything. I'm a huge fan of Cream's singing half, Minami, as she spent a part of her childhood in Hongkong and is fluent in English and Japanese at the same time. Needless to say, I have the album on constant repeat slash loop on the itunes as of this moment...here's a snippet of said really fun title track (the remix here is alright but I like the regular album version more for some reason...hmn...):