A Profile
Style: Country Lolita
Alias: Country Loli
Subset?: Yes, Sweet Lolita
Most Common Distinguishing Features: straw hat headdresses, picnic baskets/wicker purses, gingham, floral prints, fruit prints
Summary: Country Lolita could be thought of as being Sweet Lolita's more wholesome sister. While she still revels in cute and wears similar colors, the parfaits and candies are replaced by lighter fare, strawberries, cherries, apples. She's outdoorsy, hence her straw hats and sturdy baskets. Think of Marie Antoinette's love for all things pastoral and natural. Country-Loli is sweet without pretension, deliciously simple and adorably romantic.
Apparent Influences: Anne of Green Gables, The Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, picnics
Examples:
&hearts This Mary Magdalene OP has a very simple and uncluttered cherry print and is accented lightly, accompanied by a basket of fresh strawberries and a little straw hat.
&hearts This red gingham dress (brand unknown) shows its Sweet Loli ancestry in its ribbon rose and lace accents, as well as through the matching doll dress and hat. Frizzy curls seem to be the most popular hairstyle in many examples, but braids and pigtails are just as appropriate and adorable.
&hearts Here we have another example of fruit prints, this time, a cherry print and a strawberry print by Angelic Pretty. The daisies, apron and hats give their outfits a bouncy, lively air. This is hardly a delicate style. There's almost a sense that these girls have been playing in a meadow all day and come back for homemade shortcake and french toast, with berries they picked themselves.
Must-Haves for Fans of the Style:
&hearts The Strawberry Splendor Skirt by Sweet Rococo is a fresh and uncomplicated take on the traditional brand Country offerings. It comes in black and pink and comes from a company with an excellent reputation.
&hearts For the Lolita who loves to cook, the Anne of Green Gables Cookbook by Kate MacDonald is a charming and fun offering, full of recipes, excerpts and darling illustrations of the scenes that inspired each recipe.
&hearts Nothing is more classically country and elegant than the scent of lavender. Provided allergies don't get in the way, L'occitane's Lavender Home Perfume can bring that relaxing, timeless scent of lavender to your rooms and linens, as well as soothe jangled nerves and help lull the sleepless to a relaxed state.
I hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse into the Country Loli style, as much as I've enjoyed the research. Until another day, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Lolita Lit 101: Anne of Green Gables
Shrub Monkeys #76, Used with the artist/author's permission.Okay, kids, time to get academic! Have a No. 2 pencil and paper ready... Ah, who am I kidding? I'm not going to quiz on this! But, I do think it's time to get into another post series I have planned for you all--Lolita Literature 101 (Sans Nabokov Edition)! Every month, I plan to go over some book that I feel every lifestyle lolita should at least try. Not love, I won't put that pressure on people, but at least attempt to read for some sort of cultural or, indeed, subcultural merit.
This month being Country-Loli Month here at SFL, I'd like to discuss one of the classics, popular here in North America and over in the birthplace of Lolita, Japan: Anne of Green Gables. Written by Lucy Maud Montgomery and published in June of 1908, this novel introduced us to the daydreaming, orphaned, Canadian redhead, Anne Shirley, and kicked off an eight book series (which is better than the Potter kid can boast! Just kidding! I'm a Hufflepuff at heart). Montgomery said she was inspired by a scrap of writing she found from her school days, in which she described a couple that had sent away for an orphan boy and had accidentally gotten a girl, instead.
The tale begins at Green Gables, a farm in the little village of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. The owners are brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who decide to adopt an orphan boy from an orphanage in Nova Scotia to help around the farm. However, there's a mix-up, and the orphan delivered is the eponymous, 11-year-old girl. She's clever, freckled, and detests her name, wishing she'd been a Cordelia. If you must call her "Anne", she insists it must be with an "E", because it's more distinguished. She proves herself to be a chatterbox and extremely imaginative, much to Marilla's constant aggravation and Matthew's constant delight.
She soon meets and makes friends with Diana Barry, Jane Andrews, and Ruby Gillis, and becomes a rival of Gilbert Blythe (see the first two frames of the above comic, and you'll see why). Throughout the book, she manages to get into numerous scrapes, including dying her hair green in her quest to be a brunette, getting Diana drunk by accident, and nearly drowning in an attempt to reenact the funeral of Elaine, the wife of Lancelot. Her intelligence and courage more than make up for her foibles, though, and she endears herself to many along the way. Despite her awkward beginning, Anne comes to consider the pastoral Avonlea and its environs as home, no matter where she goes on her path to adulthood.
As a child, I was a precocious reader. Anne of Green Gables was one of the few books my mother didn't feel the need to put on a higher shelf. It was also around this time that I wound up watching the 1985 miniseries on PBS, and it seems she's had an impact on my life. I've tried to change my name often in my life. Teachers could never say it or spell it right on the first try and I rued the fact that my father had been so adamant about my name (Mom's first choice was Brianne). I gave up in the 8th grade, resigning myself to the fact that it was my name and there was no changing it. Just as Anne wished for dark hair, I've wished to be a blond, then a redhead, after it was gently pointed out that blond hair would look ghastly on me. I've dried my hair to a crisp in search of glorious, "Anne-ish" auburn hair. So far, no luck, but I'm a bit more determined in that respect, I think. And, even before I discovered lolita, I wished for a more elegant and romantic life, often daydreaming, just like she did:
"...Now I'm going to imagine things into this room so that they'll always stay imagined. The floor is covered with a white velvet carpet with pink roses all over it and there are pink silk curtains at the windows. The walls are hung with gold and silver brocade tapestry. The furniture is mahogany. I never saw any mahogany, but it does sound SO luxurious. This is a couch all heaped with gorgeous silken cushions, pink and blue and crimson and gold, and I am reclining gracefully on it. I can see my reflection in that splendid big mirror hanging on the wall. I am tall and regal, clad in a gown of trailing white lace, with a pearl cross on my breast and pearls in my hair. My hair is of midnight darkness and my skin is a clear ivory pallor. My name is the Lady Cordelia Fitzgerald. No, it isn't—I can't make THAT seem real."
She danced up to the little looking-glass and peered into it. Her pointed freckled face and solemn gray eyes peered back at her.
"You're only Anne of Green Gables," she said earnestly, "and I see you, just as you are looking now, whenever I try to imagine I'm the Lady Cordelia. But it's a million times nicer to be Anne of Green Gables than Anne of nowhere in particular, isn't it?"
It seems that Japan is quite taken with her, having two animated series based on the books made. Some of the earliest Lolita designs from the 70's (when the first Anne anime debuted) even resemble her long calico frocks and pinafores, though those silhouettes seem to have fallen out of favor.
Culturally, Anne might very well be one of the earliest fictional foremothers of Lolita style. She struggled to make her life a little more beautiful and cheerful, no matter how dark and dreary things got, and her charm and wit made her friends no matter where she went. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever dreamed high and still managed to keep their feet on the ground.
That's all for today, folks! Until another day, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sewing for My Lazy Self: Marisa's Ghostbuster Skirt, Part 2-ish--The Actual Work
Not long ago, I posted about sewing a skirt and petticoat for a convention I was going to. Well, okay, the planning out part. So, I actually got started on Saturday last, convinced that this was really much easier than it looked. After all, it's an elastic waist skirt and the same pattern could then be modified to make the sash waist skirt I wanted.
Oh, how wrong I was.
I've mentioned it before, but let me say it again: tulle and I get on like a house on fire. You know, smoke, flames, people running around and screaming, massive property damage. As it is, I got two yards of very fine tulle and began making the "poof layers of the petticoat, but then decided I'd overdone it and took a little out. Then I gathered it and discovered that, now that it was gathered, there wasn't really enough to go around my waist and hips. Fine, I said, and resolved for what feels like the umpteenth time in this project to lay the whole mess aside and go to bed.
I awoke this morning with the resolution that, before my noon appointment, I would add the strips back on, gather those new strips, and attach them to the skirt and damn the consequences. While I'm out, I will be buying more tulle, because even for a casual petti, this petticoat is not nearly fluffy enough. And Wednesday, I will sew the gray and orange skirt. Come hell, havoc, or high water, I will have this done and I will be wearing it at the con and the demons of crappy sewing and failure can all just bite me. If I have to sit at the registration desk while I volunteer and run a damn sewing machine in between floods of guests, that's what I'll do!
See this? This is my determined face.
So, until another day, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Oh, how wrong I was.
I've mentioned it before, but let me say it again: tulle and I get on like a house on fire. You know, smoke, flames, people running around and screaming, massive property damage. As it is, I got two yards of very fine tulle and began making the "poof layers of the petticoat, but then decided I'd overdone it and took a little out. Then I gathered it and discovered that, now that it was gathered, there wasn't really enough to go around my waist and hips. Fine, I said, and resolved for what feels like the umpteenth time in this project to lay the whole mess aside and go to bed.
I awoke this morning with the resolution that, before my noon appointment, I would add the strips back on, gather those new strips, and attach them to the skirt and damn the consequences. While I'm out, I will be buying more tulle, because even for a casual petti, this petticoat is not nearly fluffy enough. And Wednesday, I will sew the gray and orange skirt. Come hell, havoc, or high water, I will have this done and I will be wearing it at the con and the demons of crappy sewing and failure can all just bite me. If I have to sit at the registration desk while I volunteer and run a damn sewing machine in between floods of guests, that's what I'll do!
See this? This is my determined face.
So, until another day, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Simplicity for the Complicated Girl
We live in an intricate world. The media and our peers fire conflicting messages at us, tangling us up in knots while everybody fights the war of individuality vs the status quo. It's not like the Lolita lifestyle is much easier. We pine for a simpler, more archaic life, while we rush to lay hands on the latest gadgets so laden with plastic roses and crystals and gumdrops, it's a wonder we can still lift them and drench ourselves in fantastical confections of lace and ribbon. It's no wonder more people are reporting anxiety disorders and depression these days (not that the past was all that rosy, but we have names for most of it now). Everyone is exhausted!
Is it any wonder things like yoga and meditation are so popular these days? We need time to slow down and recharge. Sometimes, we just need to turn back to the simple and let all the convoluted elements of our life wait.
If you've read some of the posts here on SFL, you know I'm a bit of a hippy. It's my weakness, I'm afraid. I'm willing to believe six impossible things before breakfast, seven if you catch me while I'm still in bed. But, meditation has been proven to have physical and mental health benefits beyond calming you down. Don't believe me? Look it up! You can probably find more reliable sources than the ones I have linked, but I trust these guys. To sum up for the link-phobic: Meditation has been shown to improve perception, boost compromised immune systems, and, of course, reduce stress (which can lead to all manner of other health problems).
Now, don't fall prey to the stereotypes. You know the ones: holy men and women chanting in the midst of nature in perfect lotus position. You don't need to spend years in a convent in the mountains to be able to meditate. To give an example: when I was in high school, the county (possibly the state, it's hard to remember) instituted a "moment of silence" before the Pledge of Allegiance for prayer and quiet contemplation. I'm a little uncomfortable with public prayer, but I would use the time to calm down before the most stressful class of the day. Somehow, I always had either math or a really tough elective in the morning, so, I could bury myself in a few moments of peace at least before I got slammed with the really tough questions like "If a is 111, what's a(4+6)". And, funny enough, just focusing on some blissful wilderness scene in my head and thinking of quiet music made my grades just a little better. It wasn't until college, where there was no reminder to put on the breaks and cool down, that I had a meltdown.
Here are a few simple meditation exercises I've started using that you can try:
--Find a time of day when you have at least five minutes uninterrupted. Set a timer, if you must, but put it where you can't see it or keep checking the time. Sit or lie down comfortably and picture someplace quiet and happy. Don't be concerned with what other people think should be happy. Your "happy place" could be a grove of birch trees in the snow or a graveyard at midnight, or even an abandoned warehouse. If it makes you feel safe and peaceful, explore it in your mind. Wander around, touch things and make note of how they feel and sound and smell. Maybe leave a little gift for the other people who might visit or just to remind yourself that this is a sanctuary.
--Find or make a string of beads. Make it your own, with charms, favorite colors and stones. Don't worry about matching it to any outfits, just make it personal. Then come up with a word or set of words that have deep meaning to you. They can be as simple as "peace" or "love", as timeless as a familiar prayer or the Litany Against Fear from "Dune", or even a few lines of poetry or an affirmation, like "I am beautiful, clever, and loved". Make sure it's something you remember easily. Whenever you have a five minute period to yourself, take it out or hold in it your pocket and recite those words you've chosen, using the beads to count or just holding them and thinking of how they make you feel. Don't worry if you lose the beads or they break. You can make another, but it's simply a symbol to keep you grounded in reality.
--Choose a pebble or a shell or some other small trinket. It could be something you found in nature or some souvenir from somewhere. Keep it with you or simply envision a small object like that in your mind. When you feel the pressures of your life getting to be too much, imagine pouring all the tension and worry and negativity into the object. Picture the object as a machine of sorts, taking the gloom and frustration and cleaning it up, recycling it into positive feelings and energy, or even just burning it away to nothing, leaving you with nothing but calm, pleasant feelings.
Now, don't overdo it, or run out and sign up for Kundalini Yoga. Like any good thing, misusing or overusing it can be harmful. Kundalini syndrome comes to mind. If you think meditation might help with any serious issues, talk to a medical or psychiatric professional first. Don't start digging into the heavier stuff without seeking professional help first. If you have a religious tradition you belong to, ask a clergy member or faith counselor about methods of meditation or prayer you can try and if there are ways to do it safely and unsafely. Also, don't throw out your medications just because you feel better now that you're doing this. Meditation is not a cure for anything, just a treatment.
There are other ways to simplify your life. Too much laundry to do? Next time you do a few loads, decide on which items you can live without, don't really wear anymore, or otherwise no longer want. Give them away to friends, sell them or donate them. you may find that your dream print collection can be pared down to a single jsk or skirt and, really, how many colorways of a single print do you need? Living space a mess? Try just picking up 15 things a day and putting them where they belong, for three weeks. Not only will you pick up the habit, but you'd be amazed how much of a difference 15 things can make. Can't decide what to eat for dinner? Try eating something simple, like a bowl of breakfast cereal, or rice and beans every so often. It'll clean out your palate and give you an easier time choosing what delicious dish you feel like having tonight. Face keeps breaking out? Try using a few less products or go old school with your cleansing regimen. I broke down and started using just cold cream, straight rosewater for toner, and a honey and oatmeal scrub when I'm really desperate. Generations of women can't be wrong (the Romans were using a recipe very close to our modern cold cream).
The simple things allow us to better enjoy and appreciate the complexities of our lives. Whenever I catch myself getting cynical and grumpy, I sit back and take a moment to enjoy the underrated pleasures of life. Then, when I've had that time to regroup and recharge, suddenly I'm feeling so much better about the whole world. Try it out some time. You may be surprised how much confusion you can do without.
Until next time, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert! I'm learning as I go!
Is it any wonder things like yoga and meditation are so popular these days? We need time to slow down and recharge. Sometimes, we just need to turn back to the simple and let all the convoluted elements of our life wait.
If you've read some of the posts here on SFL, you know I'm a bit of a hippy. It's my weakness, I'm afraid. I'm willing to believe six impossible things before breakfast, seven if you catch me while I'm still in bed. But, meditation has been proven to have physical and mental health benefits beyond calming you down. Don't believe me? Look it up! You can probably find more reliable sources than the ones I have linked, but I trust these guys. To sum up for the link-phobic: Meditation has been shown to improve perception, boost compromised immune systems, and, of course, reduce stress (which can lead to all manner of other health problems).
Now, don't fall prey to the stereotypes. You know the ones: holy men and women chanting in the midst of nature in perfect lotus position. You don't need to spend years in a convent in the mountains to be able to meditate. To give an example: when I was in high school, the county (possibly the state, it's hard to remember) instituted a "moment of silence" before the Pledge of Allegiance for prayer and quiet contemplation. I'm a little uncomfortable with public prayer, but I would use the time to calm down before the most stressful class of the day. Somehow, I always had either math or a really tough elective in the morning, so, I could bury myself in a few moments of peace at least before I got slammed with the really tough questions like "If a is 111, what's a(4+6)". And, funny enough, just focusing on some blissful wilderness scene in my head and thinking of quiet music made my grades just a little better. It wasn't until college, where there was no reminder to put on the breaks and cool down, that I had a meltdown.
Here are a few simple meditation exercises I've started using that you can try:
--Find a time of day when you have at least five minutes uninterrupted. Set a timer, if you must, but put it where you can't see it or keep checking the time. Sit or lie down comfortably and picture someplace quiet and happy. Don't be concerned with what other people think should be happy. Your "happy place" could be a grove of birch trees in the snow or a graveyard at midnight, or even an abandoned warehouse. If it makes you feel safe and peaceful, explore it in your mind. Wander around, touch things and make note of how they feel and sound and smell. Maybe leave a little gift for the other people who might visit or just to remind yourself that this is a sanctuary.
--Find or make a string of beads. Make it your own, with charms, favorite colors and stones. Don't worry about matching it to any outfits, just make it personal. Then come up with a word or set of words that have deep meaning to you. They can be as simple as "peace" or "love", as timeless as a familiar prayer or the Litany Against Fear from "Dune", or even a few lines of poetry or an affirmation, like "I am beautiful, clever, and loved". Make sure it's something you remember easily. Whenever you have a five minute period to yourself, take it out or hold in it your pocket and recite those words you've chosen, using the beads to count or just holding them and thinking of how they make you feel. Don't worry if you lose the beads or they break. You can make another, but it's simply a symbol to keep you grounded in reality.
--Choose a pebble or a shell or some other small trinket. It could be something you found in nature or some souvenir from somewhere. Keep it with you or simply envision a small object like that in your mind. When you feel the pressures of your life getting to be too much, imagine pouring all the tension and worry and negativity into the object. Picture the object as a machine of sorts, taking the gloom and frustration and cleaning it up, recycling it into positive feelings and energy, or even just burning it away to nothing, leaving you with nothing but calm, pleasant feelings.
Now, don't overdo it, or run out and sign up for Kundalini Yoga. Like any good thing, misusing or overusing it can be harmful. Kundalini syndrome comes to mind. If you think meditation might help with any serious issues, talk to a medical or psychiatric professional first. Don't start digging into the heavier stuff without seeking professional help first. If you have a religious tradition you belong to, ask a clergy member or faith counselor about methods of meditation or prayer you can try and if there are ways to do it safely and unsafely. Also, don't throw out your medications just because you feel better now that you're doing this. Meditation is not a cure for anything, just a treatment.
There are other ways to simplify your life. Too much laundry to do? Next time you do a few loads, decide on which items you can live without, don't really wear anymore, or otherwise no longer want. Give them away to friends, sell them or donate them. you may find that your dream print collection can be pared down to a single jsk or skirt and, really, how many colorways of a single print do you need? Living space a mess? Try just picking up 15 things a day and putting them where they belong, for three weeks. Not only will you pick up the habit, but you'd be amazed how much of a difference 15 things can make. Can't decide what to eat for dinner? Try eating something simple, like a bowl of breakfast cereal, or rice and beans every so often. It'll clean out your palate and give you an easier time choosing what delicious dish you feel like having tonight. Face keeps breaking out? Try using a few less products or go old school with your cleansing regimen. I broke down and started using just cold cream, straight rosewater for toner, and a honey and oatmeal scrub when I'm really desperate. Generations of women can't be wrong (the Romans were using a recipe very close to our modern cold cream).
The simple things allow us to better enjoy and appreciate the complexities of our lives. Whenever I catch myself getting cynical and grumpy, I sit back and take a moment to enjoy the underrated pleasures of life. Then, when I've had that time to regroup and recharge, suddenly I'm feeling so much better about the whole world. Try it out some time. You may be surprised how much confusion you can do without.
Until next time, this is Brenna, wishing you lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert! I'm learning as I go!
Cooking and Planning for Lolita Parties: Sunflower Seed Cookies and Savory Pumpkin Soup
Continuing our Party Planning series, we have two recipes for party foods, which I feel are perfectly suited to a Country Loli Harvest Picnic. The first is for Sunflower Seed Cookies, originally found in the Epicurean Tarot. The cards double as recipe cards and they're a little too big for me to use for divination, but they're so cool and they were out of print when I found them, so I insisted on snapping them up.
Sunflower Seed Cookies (from the Epicurean Tarot)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
1 cup sunflower or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups unsalted sunflower seeds, shelled
Mix the sugars, the butter and the oil.
Add the other ingredients and mix them into a dough.
Roll the dough into small balls, put them on a cookie sheet, lightly greased (or use cooking parchment) and flatten them with a fork, dipped in sugar before each cookie.
Serves 4 to 6 people
Bake at 350 degrees farenheit, for 10 to 12 minutes.
Serving Ideas: Try to find an organic florist in your area and ask about non-toxic, edible yellow flowers you can buy and use those to decorate the plate! Or, if you know your flowers already and have a garden, use your only flowers (just not the ones you've used chemicals on, you don't want to make your friends sick).
The next recipe is a savory pumpkin soup, from Allrecipes.com. If you're having the picnic away from the house, try to get a very large thermos to carry the soup in and keep it warm.
Savory Pumpkin Soup (from Allrecipes.com)
5 cups pumpkin puree
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
4 ounces dry pasta
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, minced
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup sour cream, for topping
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup toasted almonds
In a large saucepan, mix the pumpkin, vegetable broth, heavy cream, garlic powder and onion powder. Bring to a boil. Stir in the pasta. Cook 12 minutes, or until pasta is tender but firm. Reduce heat to simmer.
Stir in pumpkin pie spice, parsley and cilantro. Slowly stir butter, plain yogurt and sour cream into the mixture, making sure they do not curdle. Stir in the cheese, allowing it to melt. Serve topped with nuts.
Serves 10 people
Serving Ideas: Serve in mismatched teacups, and encourage your guests to sip it like cocoa! The teacups can be probably be found at the thrift store. Bring paper towels and newspaper, so you can send your guests home with a lovely little gift. Alternately, if you have an artistic bent, see if there is a studio where you can paint your own teacups, then paint them for each guest's tastes!
Well, since I missed out on posting this weekend, I think I'll post another entry today. See you all soon! I wish everyone lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert! I'm learning as I go!
Sunflower Seed Cookies (from the Epicurean Tarot)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
1 cup sunflower or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups unsalted sunflower seeds, shelled
Mix the sugars, the butter and the oil.
Add the other ingredients and mix them into a dough.
Roll the dough into small balls, put them on a cookie sheet, lightly greased (or use cooking parchment) and flatten them with a fork, dipped in sugar before each cookie.
Serves 4 to 6 people
Bake at 350 degrees farenheit, for 10 to 12 minutes.
Serving Ideas: Try to find an organic florist in your area and ask about non-toxic, edible yellow flowers you can buy and use those to decorate the plate! Or, if you know your flowers already and have a garden, use your only flowers (just not the ones you've used chemicals on, you don't want to make your friends sick).
The next recipe is a savory pumpkin soup, from Allrecipes.com. If you're having the picnic away from the house, try to get a very large thermos to carry the soup in and keep it warm.
Savory Pumpkin Soup (from Allrecipes.com)
5 cups pumpkin puree
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
4 ounces dry pasta
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, minced
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup sour cream, for topping
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup toasted almonds
In a large saucepan, mix the pumpkin, vegetable broth, heavy cream, garlic powder and onion powder. Bring to a boil. Stir in the pasta. Cook 12 minutes, or until pasta is tender but firm. Reduce heat to simmer.
Stir in pumpkin pie spice, parsley and cilantro. Slowly stir butter, plain yogurt and sour cream into the mixture, making sure they do not curdle. Stir in the cheese, allowing it to melt. Serve topped with nuts.
Serves 10 people
Serving Ideas: Serve in mismatched teacups, and encourage your guests to sip it like cocoa! The teacups can be probably be found at the thrift store. Bring paper towels and newspaper, so you can send your guests home with a lovely little gift. Alternately, if you have an artistic bent, see if there is a studio where you can paint your own teacups, then paint them for each guest's tastes!
Well, since I missed out on posting this weekend, I think I'll post another entry today. See you all soon! I wish everyone lots of luck, love and living space! Remember, I'm no expert! I'm learning as I go!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Beat The Heat in Lolita
I don't know about you guys, but where I am, summer is a nightmare, unless you either like the heat or can afford to live in a meat locker. Virginia has been known to spike in the triple digits in July and August. I can't imagine what it must be like further south. This is the first summer I've spent with no a/c and it's been miserable. But, does that mean a Lolita must choose between her clothes and her health? Not at all! We just have to be more careful about it!
Tip #1: Natural Fibers Are Your Friends
Synthetics don't tend to look all that great as lolita wear in my experience, anyway. But, sometimes, they sneak in unnoticed. If you're making your own clothes, try to get clothes with high natural fiber contents. 100% cotton or linen is best, but can be pricey, so you may have to settle for 50%, but try not to go any lower or you will be miserable. And, of course, if you can afford it ever, silk is the wonder fiber. Warm in winter, cool in summer, it insulates and breathes. However, avoid wool. Yes, it's natural, but even lightweight wools are insufferable when it's warm.
Tip #2: Color Your World
Sweet Lolis will probably have the easiest time with this one: skew your color palette a little lighter. White would be most comfortable, as it reflects light, while black absorbs it. Light colors will work, too, and cool colors like green, blue and lavender, will give you a bit of relief from the subconscious association of warm colors=warm. I highly recommend investing in/making at least one light colored coordinate, even for you Kuro Loli devotees. Style isn't worth a bout of sunstroke.
Tip #3: Accessorize Practically
The three things no one should ever leave home without in extreme heat: parasol, fan, and water bottle. No matter how affected the first two may seem, you'll be grateful for them later. You never know when the a/c will fail or when you'll have to dash outside in bright sunshine. And hydration can help you to stay cool. You don't even need to carry straight water. A little lemonade or a twist of mint and lime will be even better, by giving you a little extra electrolytic boost.
Tip #4: Have Casual (insert day of the week)
As much fun as it is to doll up to the max, it's really impractical when the thermometer spikes. Makeup melts and runs, hot materials get all sweaty, and hair eventually goes flat. Casual is going to be more comfortable in the long run. I highly advocate trading in the stay-puft pettis and high-collared blouses for softer petticoats and breezy cut-sews. Stick with pigtails or buns or--if you're braver than I am--go ahead and get a kicky new haircut. Ask the stylist to show you how to curl it for cooler weather and add cute little bows and clips until then.
Well, that's all the advice I have for today. Until tomorrow, I wish you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Tip #1: Natural Fibers Are Your Friends
Synthetics don't tend to look all that great as lolita wear in my experience, anyway. But, sometimes, they sneak in unnoticed. If you're making your own clothes, try to get clothes with high natural fiber contents. 100% cotton or linen is best, but can be pricey, so you may have to settle for 50%, but try not to go any lower or you will be miserable. And, of course, if you can afford it ever, silk is the wonder fiber. Warm in winter, cool in summer, it insulates and breathes. However, avoid wool. Yes, it's natural, but even lightweight wools are insufferable when it's warm.
Tip #2: Color Your World
Sweet Lolis will probably have the easiest time with this one: skew your color palette a little lighter. White would be most comfortable, as it reflects light, while black absorbs it. Light colors will work, too, and cool colors like green, blue and lavender, will give you a bit of relief from the subconscious association of warm colors=warm. I highly recommend investing in/making at least one light colored coordinate, even for you Kuro Loli devotees. Style isn't worth a bout of sunstroke.
Tip #3: Accessorize Practically
The three things no one should ever leave home without in extreme heat: parasol, fan, and water bottle. No matter how affected the first two may seem, you'll be grateful for them later. You never know when the a/c will fail or when you'll have to dash outside in bright sunshine. And hydration can help you to stay cool. You don't even need to carry straight water. A little lemonade or a twist of mint and lime will be even better, by giving you a little extra electrolytic boost.
Tip #4: Have Casual (insert day of the week)
As much fun as it is to doll up to the max, it's really impractical when the thermometer spikes. Makeup melts and runs, hot materials get all sweaty, and hair eventually goes flat. Casual is going to be more comfortable in the long run. I highly advocate trading in the stay-puft pettis and high-collared blouses for softer petticoats and breezy cut-sews. Stick with pigtails or buns or--if you're braver than I am--go ahead and get a kicky new haircut. Ask the stylist to show you how to curl it for cooler weather and add cute little bows and clips until then.
Well, that's all the advice I have for today. Until tomorrow, I wish you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Five Awesome Things About... Country Living
"Five Awesome Things" is going to be a monthly series where I sit down and ruminate on the things that make the month's theme so cool or on other things that might not get the appreciation they deserve. So, what's so great about living in the countryside?
5. Nature Walks:
I'm normally a bit of a slugabed and I'm not much of a fan of living an hour from a decent grocery store. But, there's something magical about going for a walk in the cool of the evening and wandering into the woods. In autumn, there were changing leaves and wild turkey and deer peeking out of the trees and brambles. In winter, the first snowfall of the season began while I was out for a woodland stroll, showering everything with a fine, cool, diamond white glitter. Spring meant rabbits and birdsong, with cherry, dogwood and wild apple trees in full bloom, and every breeze was full of petals straight out of a shojo manga. Summer meant I had to wait until sundown for the temperature to drop, but the sunsets were amazing and the summer flowers were like splashes of brilliant paint on the world. You have to be careful out here; bears and bobcats were a hazard for a while, but they seem to have moved on to quieter woods and now, I'm willing to believe that the area is safe for an afternoon wander. I don't take my iPod or anything with me, just my cell phone for security. It's little things like that, that make things a little less stressful. When I'm walking, there's nothing I need to think about, past maybe dodging cars on the way!
4. Peace and Quiet:
Okay, I'm a talker. I like sound and conversation and music. But, I never realized just how beneficial a little silence could be until I moved out here. I've found that I listen to music way too loud, that my cats are much more expressive and chatty than originally believed, and that even silence has a little bit of music to it. And time seems to move a bit slower out here. I forget to get out of bed somedays until noon, I'm so much more relaxed. The laidback atmosphere has done wonders for my mood.
3. Fresh Produce:
Ever tasted a freshly-picked cherry tomato? I mean, REALLY fresh, straight off the vine? I hadn't either, until my Mother-In-Law moved with us and started growing vegetables and herbs on the back porch. I popped one in my mouth when it was offered and thought I was in Heaven. It was juicy and sweet and rich and a dozen other wonderful words. I love being able to go out back and pick herbs for my salads, or just grab tomatoes to snack on. They may not be any more or less healthy than the store-bought kind, but the ones in the store just don't taste the same at all.
2. Wildflowers:
Virginia wildflowers were something I discovered only after I moved to Loudoun County as a pre-teen. They get planted all along highways and median strips here and they fill the summers with such color and joy, it's hard to imagine a summer drive without them. Huge red, yellow and orange poppies, pale blue and purple cornflowers, flowers I can't remember to describe that only come to mind as punches of pink and violet and indigo. My yard was full of pink phlox, which looks like a carpet of tiny fuschia flowers smaller than my pinky nail, during the month of June and I was so very sad to see them go away. Just keep in mind, hard as it is, don't pick them unless they're in your yard. Many areas plant them in places to keep native species from dying out or being crowded out by invasive species. Instead, if you want to have wildflowers to pick for your own, find out if any local nature preservation societies have seeds for sale and plant them in your yard or in pots.
1. History:
In Virginia, we have tons of old historic houses and neighborhoods, especially outside of the cities. There are the ones people know, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Montpelier, Williamsburg, but not a lot of people know about Sully Plantation, a place very close to my heart. My mother and I used to reenact for the park service at Sully, which is the ancestral home of the famous Lee family (yes, 1776 fans, THAT Lee family ;)). It's a beautiful old Federalist period home, roughly built around the time the Regency period was kicking off in Europe, and we very nearly lost it to the building of Dulles Airport. As it is, Dulles is quite close by (you can hear the jets flying low overhead), but dear old Sully was saved and functions as a museum to this day. I highly recommend finding your own local historic sites and getting involved in their well-being. It maybe as wild as the local animal sanctuary (many of which were founded in the Victorian age) or as civilized as a local small town where absolutely nothing seems to have happened. But keep it alive so future generations can enjoy it!
Until tomorrow, I wish you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
5. Nature Walks:
I'm normally a bit of a slugabed and I'm not much of a fan of living an hour from a decent grocery store. But, there's something magical about going for a walk in the cool of the evening and wandering into the woods. In autumn, there were changing leaves and wild turkey and deer peeking out of the trees and brambles. In winter, the first snowfall of the season began while I was out for a woodland stroll, showering everything with a fine, cool, diamond white glitter. Spring meant rabbits and birdsong, with cherry, dogwood and wild apple trees in full bloom, and every breeze was full of petals straight out of a shojo manga. Summer meant I had to wait until sundown for the temperature to drop, but the sunsets were amazing and the summer flowers were like splashes of brilliant paint on the world. You have to be careful out here; bears and bobcats were a hazard for a while, but they seem to have moved on to quieter woods and now, I'm willing to believe that the area is safe for an afternoon wander. I don't take my iPod or anything with me, just my cell phone for security. It's little things like that, that make things a little less stressful. When I'm walking, there's nothing I need to think about, past maybe dodging cars on the way!
4. Peace and Quiet:
Okay, I'm a talker. I like sound and conversation and music. But, I never realized just how beneficial a little silence could be until I moved out here. I've found that I listen to music way too loud, that my cats are much more expressive and chatty than originally believed, and that even silence has a little bit of music to it. And time seems to move a bit slower out here. I forget to get out of bed somedays until noon, I'm so much more relaxed. The laidback atmosphere has done wonders for my mood.
3. Fresh Produce:
Ever tasted a freshly-picked cherry tomato? I mean, REALLY fresh, straight off the vine? I hadn't either, until my Mother-In-Law moved with us and started growing vegetables and herbs on the back porch. I popped one in my mouth when it was offered and thought I was in Heaven. It was juicy and sweet and rich and a dozen other wonderful words. I love being able to go out back and pick herbs for my salads, or just grab tomatoes to snack on. They may not be any more or less healthy than the store-bought kind, but the ones in the store just don't taste the same at all.
2. Wildflowers:
Virginia wildflowers were something I discovered only after I moved to Loudoun County as a pre-teen. They get planted all along highways and median strips here and they fill the summers with such color and joy, it's hard to imagine a summer drive without them. Huge red, yellow and orange poppies, pale blue and purple cornflowers, flowers I can't remember to describe that only come to mind as punches of pink and violet and indigo. My yard was full of pink phlox, which looks like a carpet of tiny fuschia flowers smaller than my pinky nail, during the month of June and I was so very sad to see them go away. Just keep in mind, hard as it is, don't pick them unless they're in your yard. Many areas plant them in places to keep native species from dying out or being crowded out by invasive species. Instead, if you want to have wildflowers to pick for your own, find out if any local nature preservation societies have seeds for sale and plant them in your yard or in pots.
1. History:
In Virginia, we have tons of old historic houses and neighborhoods, especially outside of the cities. There are the ones people know, Monticello, Mount Vernon, Montpelier, Williamsburg, but not a lot of people know about Sully Plantation, a place very close to my heart. My mother and I used to reenact for the park service at Sully, which is the ancestral home of the famous Lee family (yes, 1776 fans, THAT Lee family ;)). It's a beautiful old Federalist period home, roughly built around the time the Regency period was kicking off in Europe, and we very nearly lost it to the building of Dulles Airport. As it is, Dulles is quite close by (you can hear the jets flying low overhead), but dear old Sully was saved and functions as a museum to this day. I highly recommend finding your own local historic sites and getting involved in their well-being. It maybe as wild as the local animal sanctuary (many of which were founded in the Victorian age) or as civilized as a local small town where absolutely nothing seems to have happened. But keep it alive so future generations can enjoy it!
Until tomorrow, I wish you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sewing for My Lazy Self: Marisa's Ghostbuster Skirt, Part 1--The Planning Stages
I have a couple of Lolita sewing projects on the back burner. A cherry-print bustle skirt with a red rufflebutt skirt underneath and matching petticoat sits not-exactly-forgotten on my ironing board, and there's a pair of cut-sews on hold, until I have the materials to touch them up. As I've said, I'm a horrible procrastinator. I'll start a sewing project and never finish.
But, now, I don't have an excuse. I'm a Live-Action Roleplayer and my newest character, Marisa, is a Lolita addict. I wouldn't say she's lifestyle, but she's at least going to wear Loli at once every couple of games. I just saw her as the sort of girl who would deliberately dress in ruffles and pretty prints to fool the people around her into thinking she's either very, very sweet or very, very simple. On the other hand, she's a bit of a punk and wouldn't hesitate to be a little tongue-in-cheek about it and use her splat symbolism (gray, crazy colors, skulls, dice, cards, etc.) to accessorize.
I have a little more than a week to make something, so I'm going to go easy on myself and make a very casual skirt out of some Halloween calico I have, with a built in petticoat. The material is two different colorways of a camo print (gray and orange) with little ghosts hidden in the print. It's hilariously appropriate because she deals with ghosts, and I can use it later for Halloween and punk-goth coords. The built-in petticoat is probably going to be a simple, light layer of gray or black cloth with black or orange tulle, not a lot, just enough to give it a bit of poof for the appropriate sillhouette.
With it, I'm planning to wear an orange baby tee, gray knee socks with skulls, mary janes and pearls. I'm hoping to slap together a quick hair bow or corsage, with a skull attached, and maybe find a bag to carry my notebooks and other props (one with a Ghostbusters logo would rock, but I'll take what I can get).
Now, a lot of people say that orange is an unsuitable color for Lolita. I say, bullshit. If it's a truly painful neon, okay, then yes, there are colors that probably lack the elegance and grace that Lolita style strives for. But, I think orange can be a very stylish and refined color in the right situation. I mean, it's the national color of the Netherlands, home of the tulip craze and Rembrandt (van Rijn). I'm into holistic medicine, so I've researched chakras and found that orange is the color of the sacral chakra, which governs creativity, joy and enthusiasm. So, some day, I might be tempted to make a jsk or skirt in a light creamsicle orange or a warm amber. For now, I'm using it as the ruffles and waistband on this skirt and damn the naysayers.
Hopefully, I'll have an update soon. Until then, this is Brenna, wishing you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
But, now, I don't have an excuse. I'm a Live-Action Roleplayer and my newest character, Marisa, is a Lolita addict. I wouldn't say she's lifestyle, but she's at least going to wear Loli at once every couple of games. I just saw her as the sort of girl who would deliberately dress in ruffles and pretty prints to fool the people around her into thinking she's either very, very sweet or very, very simple. On the other hand, she's a bit of a punk and wouldn't hesitate to be a little tongue-in-cheek about it and use her splat symbolism (gray, crazy colors, skulls, dice, cards, etc.) to accessorize.
I have a little more than a week to make something, so I'm going to go easy on myself and make a very casual skirt out of some Halloween calico I have, with a built in petticoat. The material is two different colorways of a camo print (gray and orange) with little ghosts hidden in the print. It's hilariously appropriate because she deals with ghosts, and I can use it later for Halloween and punk-goth coords. The built-in petticoat is probably going to be a simple, light layer of gray or black cloth with black or orange tulle, not a lot, just enough to give it a bit of poof for the appropriate sillhouette.
With it, I'm planning to wear an orange baby tee, gray knee socks with skulls, mary janes and pearls. I'm hoping to slap together a quick hair bow or corsage, with a skull attached, and maybe find a bag to carry my notebooks and other props (one with a Ghostbusters logo would rock, but I'll take what I can get).
Now, a lot of people say that orange is an unsuitable color for Lolita. I say, bullshit. If it's a truly painful neon, okay, then yes, there are colors that probably lack the elegance and grace that Lolita style strives for. But, I think orange can be a very stylish and refined color in the right situation. I mean, it's the national color of the Netherlands, home of the tulip craze and Rembrandt (van Rijn). I'm into holistic medicine, so I've researched chakras and found that orange is the color of the sacral chakra, which governs creativity, joy and enthusiasm. So, some day, I might be tempted to make a jsk or skirt in a light creamsicle orange or a warm amber. For now, I'm using it as the ruffles and waistband on this skirt and damn the naysayers.
Hopefully, I'll have an update soon. Until then, this is Brenna, wishing you all lots of luck, love, and living space! Remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Cooking and Planning for Lolita Parties: Country Loli Beginning-of-Harvest Picnic
Hello, everyone! Welcome to the first post in what I hope will be a long and productive series here on SFL: Cooking and Planning for Lolita Parties!
The theme for the month of August (okay, what's left of it) is Country Loli. Think soft ginghams, fresh berries, and wildflowers in your hair, with ladybugs and gentle fawns grazing in the fields. Of course, for those of us with allergies or who have no inclination for country living, maybe we should stick with the clothes and the occasional picnic like this one.
August is the month when many temperate climate farms begin the harvest. Many modern nature religions hold a festival around this time called Lughnasadh (luna-sta), or Lammas (meaning the feast of the loaf). It's a good time for a party, both to celebrate the good times we've had with our friends and family during the summer and to remember how fortunate we are to have the resources for such a feast. True, the weather in August can be quick to change, especially here in Virginia. I just returned home from a camping trip in some of the nicest weather I can remember and now it's raining hard. But, who says you can't move your festivities indoors? Nobody ever said a picnic had to be outside!
We'll start by planning the menu. Every so often, I'll post a recipe from the menu laid out at the beginning of the month, along with serving and garnish tips, keeping in mind that this month has a shorter time limit.
MENU
--Savory Pumpkin Soup
--Homemade Whole Wheat Bread
--Anne and Diana's Avonlea Sandwiches
--Sunflower Seed Cookies
--Cider Tea Punch, Water, and Various Juices
--Fresh Fruit and Vegetables with Peanut Butter, Honey and Ranch Dip
The key to any party menu is variety. Too many sweets and your guests will get a sugar crash, midway through the party. Too many savories and they'll drink every liquid in sight. And you never know who has what allergies, dietary restrictions or preferences. This menu will hopefully have something for everyone, but feel free to add or remove recipes as you so desire. These are just suggestions.
See you all again tomorrow, when I'll discuss sewing my first coordinate and the complications thereof. Have fun and remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
--Brenna
The theme for the month of August (okay, what's left of it) is Country Loli. Think soft ginghams, fresh berries, and wildflowers in your hair, with ladybugs and gentle fawns grazing in the fields. Of course, for those of us with allergies or who have no inclination for country living, maybe we should stick with the clothes and the occasional picnic like this one.
August is the month when many temperate climate farms begin the harvest. Many modern nature religions hold a festival around this time called Lughnasadh (luna-sta), or Lammas (meaning the feast of the loaf). It's a good time for a party, both to celebrate the good times we've had with our friends and family during the summer and to remember how fortunate we are to have the resources for such a feast. True, the weather in August can be quick to change, especially here in Virginia. I just returned home from a camping trip in some of the nicest weather I can remember and now it's raining hard. But, who says you can't move your festivities indoors? Nobody ever said a picnic had to be outside!
We'll start by planning the menu. Every so often, I'll post a recipe from the menu laid out at the beginning of the month, along with serving and garnish tips, keeping in mind that this month has a shorter time limit.
MENU
--Savory Pumpkin Soup
--Homemade Whole Wheat Bread
--Anne and Diana's Avonlea Sandwiches
--Sunflower Seed Cookies
--Cider Tea Punch, Water, and Various Juices
--Fresh Fruit and Vegetables with Peanut Butter, Honey and Ranch Dip
The key to any party menu is variety. Too many sweets and your guests will get a sugar crash, midway through the party. Too many savories and they'll drink every liquid in sight. And you never know who has what allergies, dietary restrictions or preferences. This menu will hopefully have something for everyone, but feel free to add or remove recipes as you so desire. These are just suggestions.
See you all again tomorrow, when I'll discuss sewing my first coordinate and the complications thereof. Have fun and remember, I'm no expert, I'm learning as I go!
--Brenna
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