Greetings friends and followers,

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, it's astonishing how this year has flown by. In a few weeks we'll be starting a new year full of many possible exciting adventures and times ahead. 2014 started out rough but it's drawing to a miraculous end. I've been through a lot and overcome more than I thought I would be able to handle. I owe a lot of that to my wonderful friends. I'm very blessed to have so many amazing people in my life who push me and support me during my most darkest of times.

This year has been filled with so many blessings that I can't even begin to describe how great the years has been. From getting out of a dead end job and finding work with a better environment, a job I enjoy going to, even if it currently sucks right now due to the Christmas rush lol, but still great due to the awesome people I get to work with and the best part of it being drama free. I love my job. Getting rid of a junker car and being able land myself a brand new car that is reliable enough that I don't have to worry about getting back and forth to work. Granted its harsh on my budget but I can handle that for the since of relief that I don't have to worry about it dying on me. Removing toxic people from my life. Getting my mind cleared from the fog that had descended upon my psyche. Opening up to new people and trying new things. Traveling out west to meet family I'd never met before and spending time with them. (and currently missing them like crazy) Losing a friend and gaining a new best friend. Creating new things, making new costumes and improving my skills. Joining a group of heroes who dresses up and goes out for charity events with kids. I very much have enjoyed this year. So many amazing things have happened. I know I am a rambling mess but I blame that on my busy past few days at work. They've gotten me all out of sorts. lol.

Anyways, I hope that everyone has a great Christmas filled with love and laughs and time with your loved ones. I'm going to try and do the same. I do have one request though. If all my friends could do me this favor it would mean the world to me. The day after Christmas (the 26th) is my mom's birthday. She would have been 51 this year if we hadn't lost her back in 2011. If you could please say a prayer for her or wish her a happy birthday. It would mean the world to me. Even if you didn't know her. She was an amazing mom and my sister and I miss her dearly.

Speaking of my sister, she's having a little boy in the next couple of weeks! I'm going to be an aunt, again.

I know that I've been away for a while. But I just wanted to let everyone know that life has become super busy what with working, getting back into my photography, costuming and volunteering with the Heroes Alliance. I just wanted to let everyone know, or at least those that are still around and care that I'm doing just fine. Just super busy. I miss the few people that I regularly spoke with. I do plan on getting back to this site at some point. I try to check in occasionally but the majority of the time when I'm online I forget b/c my time spent on the internet is no where near what it use to be since I've started doing all this other stuff.

To give a bit more about the Heroes Alliance, for those that are curious or don't know what it is, it is a non-profit organization that goes out and does charity event for kids. The members dress as superheros from the Marvel and DC universes. I am the groups Raven, but I also have Black Canary on my list in case she is ever needed. But I am very happy with being Raven at all the events. The kids really seem to love her. I can post a few photos in my gallery to show you my team. They're freaking awesome, I'm very glad I joined their ranks. It's wonderful being able to inspire the kids and giving them a chance to meet their favorite heroes. I'm working on a few other costumes for the Alliance and even for the con season next year. So far I am planning on doing:

- Helena Wayne's Robin
- Pixie
- Demon Raven
- Steampunk Barbara Gordon Batgirl
- Dark Ms. Marvel

the line up is subject to change depending on my funding, but they are the costumes that I hope to have finished. I am still working on the secret cosplay that I was planning for DragonCon that never got finished thanks to the ever unprofessional loser that I commissioned my mask from. Guys let me tell you, I ordered my mask for this costume in JULY and STILL have NOT received it. DO NOT ORDER FROM LOGANPROPS!!! He's always talking up how great his work is and all these gigs he's gotten, but he is seriously unprofessional! To have his items listed to be shipped within three days on the site, then you email him to ask about your item and then it takes him forever to get back to you. I am very close to filling a claim to get my money back. I was going to do it a week ago but he finally emailed me and said it would be ready for Halloween. So I'm giving him until then and if he doesn't have it shipped by then I'm filling a claim to get my money back. Thank god I know a great many of friends in the cosplay community that know how to do these things, best believe I will be utilizing their talents for any future costumes I have planned. I already have a friend of mine working on my mask for Robin.

Anyways, back to the costuming grind. With Halloween just around the corner I have a lot of work to do. What are you guys doing for Halloween? I will likely be doing Raven and walking around.


~SJ

Long time no post!

Hope that you all have been doing well, things have been crazy busy on my end.
Between work, preparing for cons, and getting ready for my birthday I've been a busy bee.
I did a photoshoot with a friend of mine on the 12th and 13th, then worked 8 straight days at work, then it was off to MomoCon (23rd-25th) then monday had to be at work at 9:30 am. And now I'm sitting at a week away from my birthday trip.

I managed to get my Dark Rukia cosplay finished in time for MomoCon, we had a good trial run with her.
Though I'm going to have to remake the collar, because it was too tight around my neck. And the scythe was a hit! Huge props to my good friend Derick for making it. You can check out his work over at Mildar Props.

MomoCon was a blast! I had a great time hanging out with my friends and meeting up with old con pals and making new ones. I always meet some of the most interesting people at Cons. Friday I started out with my bleach group, Rukia, Ichigo, and Rangiku. Then changed into Raven and my friend did Bumble Bee. We managed to meet up with a Jinx and did some epic shots together. It was great seeing two rare Titan characters. XD On Saturday I started out the day with my quick Nana cosplay, then changed into Dark Rukia for a couple of hours, then had to quickly change into Raven for the DC shoot. Had a BLAST at the shoot go to meet so many new people and made a friend out of one of the Harley's. Before changing into Raven my friends and I sat in on the Script Reading of The Matrix featuring the cast of the animaniacs, the brain, and even Ruffiiiiooooooooo. lmao. It was freaking hilarious and the only panel we decided to catch for the con. Definitely worth it.

Here is a link to the script reading for those interested!

 

Sunday after two days of crazy fast changes I decided to go with normal clothes and walk around and take photos of everyone. Browsed the dealer room and bought a few things. Over all a most excellent convention. I can't wait for DragonCon and AWA in Sept. Got some great cosplays planned for those. Already got one of my cosplays for DC nearly completed, just have to finish one more piece for it then I can start working on my secret cosplay for DC. It's going to be most epic!

Next Wed I turn 28! I'm getting so old! lol. And then the day after I fly out to San Diego to stay with family for a week. I'm super excited! I can't wait to have awesome adventures on the west coast. My cousins are taking me to an amusement park and then an asian market in LA. Gonna FINALLY get to meet my roomie! We've been great friends for longer than i can remember and now I finally get the chance to meet up with her and hang out! I'm very excited!

Hmm...not much else has been happening...

So how have you guys been doing?

~SJ

Sorry for the long silence. Things at home weren't going so great which resulted in loss of our internet for a bit.
Luckily we have it back now so I can update you all on everything.

My friend, Josie (who is also my self appointed sewing teacher) and I have begun work on my Dark Rukia cosplay for MomoCon in May. Which I'm really excited about. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

I've been working very hard trying to raise money for my move to California...and yes that is still happening. Come Oct it'll be goodbye east coast hello West Coast. Which I'm very excited about. Yesterday I finally was able to book my flight for my birthday trip out there to visit family and friends. I'll be out there about a week and enjoying the time with family and trying to line up some work for when I move out there. I've already sent my itinerary to my cousin who is to be picking me up at the airport I think everyone involved is pretty excited. lol. but moving on. In between working on cosplays for Momo and preparing for my trip in June I've also been trying to book more shows and photoshoots.

On Saint Patrick's Day I was actually able to pick up my first show for the year. I ended up getting the pass to shoot MSI which was totally awesome and funny enough they were the last band I shot last year. So it was pretty perfect way to start off a new year of shows. I'm hoping to land a few more in between everything else I have going on. I miss shooting concerts. =\

Um...well I think that's about it for tonight. I'm a lot more tired than I realized...oh! some friends and I are going to the Ren Fair on the 19th which I am totally psyched for! I haven't been to one in years! So this will be great fun!  but yeah...i think it's time to turn in for the night.

peace

So we're two months into 2014 and thus far things have been going just fantastic! A lot of exciting new things are happening and I can't wait to see how things go in the coming months.

To start off the new year I let go of all the things that were keeping me weighted down in 2013. I've moved on from all the pain, drama, and bullshit of last year and embracing this new year with a fresh start.

I'm working extra hard to get up the money I need for everything I have planned for this year. Starting with hoping I land a photopass for the MSI show on St. Patrick's Day. Gearing up for Momocon in May. Getting everything together for the cosplays I have planned for it. Then my birthday trip to California to visit family and friends in June. Being freaking excited for seeing Lindsey Sterling in July. Saving for cosplays for Dragoncon and AWA in Sept. Preparing for my move to Cali in October. And a few other things that might come up in between now and then. I'm looking forward to all of it and I know I'm going to have to keep working my ass off to make everything possible. I'm very happy and blessed to have the love and support of my bf, friends, and family for this adventure I've set for my life.

Oh yeah! lol I've also got a new bf who isn't a total tool or jackass like the last one. I hadn't planned on starting any relationships or getting attached to someone what with me moving and all, but it just sort of happened. And I have to say I'm very glad it did. He has been supportive of my plan to go out and live my dream. He's sad that I'll be gone for a while but still wanted to try. I adore him. He's very much like the Moonlight Knight that cosplays. It's nice not feeling old and feeling like I don't have to be mature enough for the both of us. XD

Hmm...well I think that's it for now. Will update more later!

take care,
SJ