All You Need Is Love, But Chocolate Doesn't Hurt

Lolis are stereotyped as chocolate guzzling fiends. Dessert prints are everywhere inspiring the sweet loli phrase "Looking at you could give me diabetes". And though it's true that nobody should eat sweets twenty four seven, eating chocolate actually has it's health benefits (which is lucky for me because I eat a little every day). 

Although white chocolate does little good for the body, milk and dark chocolate can help improve the function of the circulatory system. Eating a few squares of chocolate every day can act as a brain stimulator and can actually help to improve your memory! 

So because I'm in an extra chocolatey mood, here are some of my favorite treats!

1. Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Chocolate covered strawberries are ridiculously delicious, they pair the rich, creamy flavour of chocolate with the refreshing taste of fruit. In stores they can be very expensive to buy, but you can make them cheaply at home. Just buy some of your favorite chocolate and melt it over a pan of boiling water, dip in some strawberries and voila!

2. Cadbury's Dairy Milk

Cadbury's is my favorite brand of chocolate ever! I like to break up the squares, put them in a zip lock back and carry it around in my purse. Eating a square every few hours is a lovely treat, but I never go through a whole bar in a day. If you are trying to buy Cadbury's in America you must be careful as the Hershey chocolate brand makes it over here and has changed the recipe (oh how I despise the taste of Hershey). Make sure to look on the back and make sure it doesn't say the dreaded H word anywhere, and if you are having trouble finding real Cadbury's chocolate try going to your local British food store!

3. Chocolate Fudge Cake

Chocolate Fudge Cake is my very favorite type of cake. You can find it at almost any bakery or grocery store and trust me, it is heavenly! I like it best when warmed slightly and topped with vanilla ice cream! I also like to put it in a martini glass, crunch it up a little, mix in some berries and top with a dollop of cream. Doing so introduces some other yummy flavors and also limits the portion.

4. Chocolate Bark

Basically all chocolate bark consists of is smashed chocolate with unusual toppings or fillings. My favorite kind of bark is topped with crunched up peppermint, but I also enjoy the kind with hardened toffee on the top! The cool thing about bark is that you can make it with virtually anything you like, just make sure to mix in your extras while the chocolate is still melted.

5. Nutella

Nutella is by far the cheapest and most versitile chocolate treat that I can imagine. It is a simple chocolate and hazelnut spread that you can buy in most grocery stores, but the possibilities are seemingly endless. I regularly enjoy Nutella sandwich (which I call "Dessert Sandwiches"), Nutella on toast, fruit dipped in Nutella, Nutella filled crepes, and even just spoonfuls of Nutella straight out of the tub! If you haven't ever tried it you are seriously missing out!

I'm sure that this article triggered some hardcore chocolate cravings in many of you, so go and grab yourself a treat. When your done eating let me know what your favorite kind of chocolate is!

Frills on Campus: Sorority

I love loli, nothing makes me happier than getting all dolled up at the beginning of the day and going about my business in a frilly manner. For me it has become common place, my friends and teachers no longer bat an eye at my outfits and it is a 100% a-okay part of my life. Well, that's what I thought until I started thinking about joining a sorority.

Sororities are organizations on campus joined solely by women. They involve a lot of charity work, help promote good grades and let you get to know a lot of people (networking) through fun events. But it's more than just a club, members of the sorority develop a deep bond between themselves, so much so that they all each other sisters.

I really, really loved the idea of joining a sorority, so this semester I decided to take the plunge and go out for recruitment. This is where my loli insecurities began.

The recruitment process is based around get togethers with the current sisters so that they can get to know you. Each day you may or may not receive an invitation to the following days event based on the impression you made at the previous event. It was nerve wracking to say the least, and I felt a great conflict on what I should wear to these get togethers. I felt that if I wore my frilly finest then I might come off as weird and be dismissed before I was given a chance, but I also felt that if I wore jeans and a t-shirt, were accepted and then started showing up in loli it would kind of be false advertising.

What would they think of me?

Would I fit in?

Would they laugh at me?

The insecurities I felt raged around me like a storm, they almost made me want to not try to join at all. Luckily, with the help of my best friend sifting through my entire wardrobe with me, I came to a compromise.

On the first day I wore jeans and a t-shirt, my pink Tea Party shoes, my Angelic Pretty bag and a small Alice bow. On the second day I wore casual loli without a petticoat. On the third day I wore full classic loli. On the fourth day, when I was invited to join the sorority I also donned the frills.

Everyone was very kind to me, most girls complimented my clothing and said that I looked cute. But most importantly they told me that the main reason I was accepted into the sorority was because it was obvious that I was being true to myself, as was evident through my clothing.

I think that loli's are often quick to worry what others will think of us, believing that everyone will think we're strange, but often we judge ourselves and others too harshly. We make a positive impression on those around us just as often, if not more, than we make a negative one. When coupled with a positive attitude and a bright smile loli can help embody the traits that you want to broadcast to the world. The people who really matter, the ones who will shape your life and help you to become a better person, will think you are beautiful inside and out no matter what you wear. Don't settle for anything less.

Sale Time

I'm trying to raise money for my trip to Japan this summer, and hopefully I can do so by clearing out some of my loli wardrobe. Thus I am having a sale, hooray! It is hosted over at egl_comm_sales, but if  you don't have a Live Journal and would still like to buy something just leave me a comment here.

I am selling my:

• Wonder Party Skirt
• Charmmy Kitty Set
• Cream Skirt
• Rectangular Headdress
• Pink Heart Buckle Shoes

 Here's the link to my sales post (RAEGAN'S SALE) and I promise to make an actual update soon!

The Queen Bee

She's cruel and she's gorgeous,

You're drawn to her flame,

Despite what you mention,

She'll ignore what you say,

One glance from her cold eyes,

Takes away all the pain,

You just want to stay by her side.

Her clothes are so perfect,

Her hair is pristine,

But the inside is rotten,

So rude and so mean,

You want to be with her,

Just so that you're seen,

And maybe they'll like you too.

Don't worry,

Forget it,

Lifes too short,

To regret it,

Why spend time on those who don't care?

She thinks your pathetic,

But now and again,

She'll throw you a bone,
It's the same in the end,

Break free and quite soon,

Your tender heart will mend,

Because every sweet girl deserves a kind friend.

Lovely Size Loli

It's not uncommon to hear girls complain that they love loli clothing but they just aren't the right proportions to wear it. Sometimes thinner girls criticize those who try to "stuff themselves" into clothing that only comes in one size, calling them names like "fatty-chan". I personally detest this attitude.

Loli is about feeling beautiful in your own skin. It takes courage to wear our fashion because it will make you stand out, and we should support all members of our community for being so brave. It doesn't matter what size you wear, you deserve to look and feel lovely.

If you don't fit into brand don't stress about it, many girls are limited due to their sizes. I myself can't wear brands like Mary Magdalene or Juliette et Justine because my ribcage is too wide, and baby, that isn't ever changing. Luckily there are many alternatives for girls who are "Lovely Sized".

Fully shirred clothing is a great option for girls who want to buy from brands, they are very stretchy and fit a larger range of sizes. One of my favorite fully shirred pieces is Marine Stripe by Metamorphose Temps De Fille, shown below.

The brand Maxicmam has a line of clothing aimed at plus sized lolis, called the "Lovely Size Collection" (I just adore the title). The measurements, however, don't seem to run too much larger than the majority of Japanese brands so it's a little disappointing.

Baby the Stars Shine Bright have introduced Large and "Large Large" sizes into their clothing too, although their website has little to no clothing in that section. I'm rather let down by this as Baby is my very favorite brand, but they seem to have dropped the ball.

If buying brand isn't a priority for you then the loli Tao Bao stores are a great resource. Most of them take custom size orders so the items can be made specifically to your measurements. I own several items from Tao Bao stores and I treasure them as much as my brand clothing, sometimes you can find real treasures on their sites! You can order clothing through sites like Qutieland, but it's cheaper if you go through a shopping service like Tao Bao Now.

Making hand made clothing is ideal for the Lovely Size loli, that way you can ensure the quality of the garment by making it yourself. It is fun and rewarding to create your own dresses, whether they be your own designs or inspired by brand dresses. I personally feel that replicas are alright if the original item does not come in your size.

Whatever route you decide to take in making your loli dreams come true remember that the most important thing is to be happy! Feeling good should be the motto of any loli girl, just realize that no matter what your measurements are you are Lovely Size!

My Wishlist, A.K.A. Trying Not to Crack Under Pressure

Since I have started my period of shopping abstinence I keep seeing so many cute things that I "need", it's very frustrating! Stay strong...stay strong!! Just so that I can get it out of my system, here is a wishlist of stuff that I'm in love with right now.  I will have to make some kind of loli promise ring to remind myself that the wait is worth it.

St Mephisto Cathedral Jumperskirt by Alice and the Pirates

This jumperskirt is just so beautiful. I love the simple design and the gorgeous border print. I'm not usually into religious imagery but this dress is just spell binding! My favorite colour way is lavender, it's just so elegant!

Velveteen Royal Antique Jumperskirt by Baby the Stars Shine Bright

I absolutely adore this jumperskirt in green. The velvet looks so rich, it would be perfect to keep a loli cozy during the harsh winter months!

Castle Prayer One Piece by Kids Yoyo

This is probably the item that I want the most right now. I've been looking for something in this style for a long time, but I've never found one that I've loved everything about. Then I saw this on Qutieland and my dreams came true. It's a replica of Mary Magdalenes St Claire one piece I believe. I have bought from Kids Yoyo before and can attest to their quality, plus it's great that they make custom sizes. I'd love this is navy blue!

Emblem Jumperskirt by Innocent World

I don't own anything brown, something that I want to rectify. I love the scalloped edges of this dress, I think that detail adds a special look. All the crowns and heraldry on the print makes me think of Britain.

Strawberry Cream One Piece by Mew

I'm sorry that I had to use someones personal picture for this dress, I just couldn't find a stock photo anywhere. I used to own the skirt version of this print but sold it in hopes of finding the one piece, I didn't realize that it would be this difficult. Although this dress is very sweet I completely love it, I hope that one day I can own this gem in yellow.

Happy Garden Cutsew by Angelic Pretty

I usually like elements of Angelic Pretty's designs but tend to find the prints as a whole too overwhelming on dresses. Cutsews are the perfect alternative to this problem. Happy Garden is one of my favorite prints, and this cutsew features all the best parts. Plus without the eggs it doesn't look so Eastery.

Tea Party Shoes by Secret Shop

Now that I own a pair of Tea Party shoes I'm completely addicted! I want to get them in brown, blue, mint and lavender!

Bunny Bear (Usakumya) Pochette by Baby the Stars Shine Bright

I've always been torn on what kind of Bunny Bear Bag I would like. The massive ones are a little over powering, but the mini ones are too tiny. I'm also not a huge back pack wearer, so the pochette version is perfect for me. You wear it like a little handbag, and it's the perfect size. Plus somehow I find their faces sweeter than their back pack counterparts. I'd love one in white!

Usakumya Friends by Baby the Stars Shine Bright 

I know that stuffed animals aren't very practical, especially for a twenty two year old, but these teddy bears are just the cutest things ever! I like the normal, keychain and hair barrette versions in all colours!

Review of My Secret Shop Buying Experience (And the Shoes Too)

I don't own too many loli shoes, mainly because I'm nervous about purchasing shoes that I can't try on first. But after slipping on my friends Secret Shop Tea Party shoes in December, 2009, and finding them to be a perfect fit I knew that one day I would have to buy a pair!

I ordered my shoes through Clobba, a website that specializes in Tao Bao items and is slightly more reasonable than Qutieland. The ordering process was a little tricky as I had to find and fill out an order form instead of the usual "add to cart" method of online buying, but it wasn't a big deal. After I paid my money and got my confirmation e-mail everything else would be taken care of for me, so all I had to do was wait. And wait. And wait some more.

Apparently the Secret Shop factory has an incredibly complicated method for making these shoes where they artificially inseminate a woman and she must birth them for the customer, because it took a little over nine months for me to receive my package. I'm not sure whose fault this was, it could have been Clobba or Secret Shop, but either way it was way too long to wait for a pair of shoes. Over the 9 month period I only received 2 e-mails from Clobba letting me know the status on my shoes, and I had to badger them just to get that information.

 I have no complaints about the shoes themselves though, if anything they are beyond my expectations! They came in a cute, and nearly impenetrable polka dot package, and were safely wrapped up inside the shoe box.

I really liked the way these shoes were wrapped, it ensures that they won't be damaged on their long trip from China!

And these are the shoes worn, I love them so much! They were well worth the wait in my opinion and I plan on buying more Tea Parties in different colours in the future. This time I might just try to buy them through the EGL Comm Sales so that I get them quickly!

Meet Up Report: A Lovely Party

Over the winter break I went to a loli party in Tennessee, hosted by my good friend Alex. I was a little nervous because I didn't know anyone besides her, but I had a wonderful time! Everyone was really friendly! I believe that most of the girls previously knew each other, but they made me feel so welcome. As you can see from the derpy picture above we all got along really well. I made so many new friends, it was really nice.

Shay wore an Angelic Pretty and offbrand coordinate. She looked amazing!!

I was very happy to meet Colleen. She was so funny and sweet, I instantly took to her. She was wearing a Bodyline coordinate and looked simply adorable.

The wonderful Alex, hostess of the party! She looked stunning in her Angelic Pretty jumperskirt and Minty Mix wig.
Check out Alex's blog here!



The always lovely Tawny looked extra pretty in her Angelic Pretty one piece. It was warm and snuggly, perfect for the cold weather.


Kaitlyn rocked a more aristocratic look. It was very refreshing and well put together. I had a lot of fun listening to her great knowledge of history and witty one liners.


I loved Katie's outfit so much! Her biker jacket and red tights gave some serious attitude to her Cherry Berry Bunny jumperskirt. It turns out that Katie bought her first loli item, a Baby the Stars Shine Bright bag, from me on the egl comm sales.


Stephanie looked striking in her gothic lolita ensemble. I love her hair, and her shoes are to die for!!


Alex served delicious and cute food at her party, you could tell that she put a lot of effort into it. My favorite treats were the gingerbread man shaped sandwiches that she made for us all. I probably ate half the population of the plate.


Overall I had a wonderful time at the party. I was happy to make new friends but it was especially lovely to see Alex again. We live so far away from each other so every time we get to hang out is something I treasure!

Outfit Rundown:


Bonnet: Angelic Pretty
Cutsew: Metamorphose Temps De Fille
Wristcuffs: Angelic Pretty
Skirt: Angelic Pretty
Socks: Claires Accessories

Shoes: Bodyline

Her Curious Crafts: Cute Bear Clips

One of my resolutions for this year is to update with the little crafts that I make, and I will start off with these cute bear hair barrettes! I am going to also add brooch clips onto them so that I can wear them in my hair and on my clothes!

They are about the length of my thumb because I neither wanted them to be overpowering nor tiny. They are like Baby Bear from The Three Bears, not to big, not to small, but just right! 

The first one I made out of light fabric to show up against dark hair. I embroidered on the eyes, nose and mouth because I really like the way embroidery looks!

This is the second little bear I made. I embroidered a different style of eyes on him, he is sneakily checking out what's going on with your outfit (maybe just admiring how cute it is?). I can't decide which style of eyes I like the best!

~*I hope you like my little bears!*~

Ruffle-Butt Resolutions 2011

It's a good idea to try and improve yourself every year! I want to do my very best to make my blog better and work towards my frilly goals. Here is a list of my loli related resolutions, next year I'll check back to see what I accomplished!

• Establish a less sporadic update schedule for Her Curious Elegance- At the beginning of 2010 I had the luxury of time, meaning that I could update every other day. I was really happy with that but now that I'm back at school full time I need to work out something new. As a reader I dislike inconsistent updates, so I don't want to do that as an author.

•  Give my blog a make over- I adore the lovely banner that Dalliann made for me when my blog first started (if you're reading this Dalliann I love you), but I feel like the rest of my blog isn't as cute as it could be. It's time for an overhaul I think! 

• Spend more time making cute crafts- Although I'm not a crafting queen like my friends Kaylyn or Alex, occasionally I'll make something cute. I always say I'll make posts about them but I never do, but I will this year dammit!

• Not buy any loli until I am in Japan on holiday- This one will be hard but very necessary, I want to save up for my plane ticket. Plus it will be exciting to buy clothing in actual loli stores where I get to try everything on.

• Work extra shifts to save up for my big trip- This shouldn't be too difficult. I really like my job, they let me wear bows! <3

• Keep wearing loli almost every day- I'm so lucky that I get to wear what I like! Sometimes I dress down, but I always get to wear some kind of loli accessory. Little pleasures build up to a happy life!

Have a frilly 2011!

Happy New Years 2011

Have a Happy New Year!

Love,

Raegan

xoxoxoxoxo