XOXO, Vanessa ❤

When I first heard of #BIPOCVampDay back in May, I swore I would prepare something for it! I didn't expect I'd have major health problems in the months leading up to it, so here is my humble contribution: a quick edit of my #LadyDimitrescu cosplay, done while shaking from vaccine fatigue. 😂 I'd planned on doing a new makeup trial for her and adding new things to the costume itself, but those will have to wait. Maybe next year she'll truly be complete? Once again, a HUGE thank you to my Butterflies🦋 who made this cosplay possible! 🦋Sharlan for gifting a huge chunk of this cosplay 🦋Diia for gifting the chest prosthetic https://www.instagram.com/p/CUAdEA_vqfx/?utm_medium=tumblr

I miss feeling the sun on my skin, breathing fresh air, getting together with friends on a whim. 🌞🍃 Chronic fatigue's been getting worse, so I had some (forced) down time to check through old albums. I know we all have a role to play, and some of us have been afforded the privilege of being able to stay home. We're all tired of this pandemic and how it's been handled, but please please do not use that as an excuse to go off and risk your health and others' health. Wash your hands, maintain physical distancing, and please do not go off poisoning yourself with "miracle cures" that doctors have debunked. Take care out there, okay? 💕 https://www.instagram.com/p/CNbujdNrR_k/?igshid=cfviun78k826

#VansFavoriteThings: W.I.T.C.H. ✨ I had this poster on my wall for so many years! Always fancied myself to be like Cornelia, but now I'm not so sure. 😂 Which guardian did you relate to most? I took this poster down a while back and just found it again while cleaning. Been konmari-ing lately, this poster in its current condition no longer sparks joy. At least I'll have this photo to remember it by! 💗 . . . . . . . #memories #witch #witchcomics #childhoodmemories https://www.instagram.com/p/CNY-VvuLyXv/?igshid=1oqhysm6m9m6g

Ume (plum blossoms) are considered the original spring flower, blooming as early as February. It is also the seasonal kanzashi for this month! While only maiko/geiko strictly observe the seasonality of kanzashi nowadays, I thought now would be a great time to wear mine. 💕 I commissioned this piece from @miyokolouissekimono and it turned out beautiful! I admit, I wanted it specifically to go with this ume motif komon, but I've got plenty of kimonos it can also be paired with in the future. 💕 I wore this kitsuke for my stream last night, and I'm really glad I got to dress in kimono again after some stressful weeks. Hoping for more kitsuke soon! 👘 https://www.instagram.com/p/CLWpgqRrSgM/?igshid=iwwtw2xj6cym

Have you gotten your @boscoffeedaily fix yet? ☕☕☕ Join us on the Facebook page, we're going live in a little bit to show you their latest offerings! https://www.instagram.com/p/CKqHjs_rwFr/?igshid=1orcsatixvpdn

Spotted this little guy during one of our property shoots! 🐛 As assistant to the Realtor, I have to gtfo of the frame like 1285928 times in each house, and I get to meet the bugs that live in the garden 😂 https://www.instagram.com/p/CKS_L7dLXod/?igshid=m1hbw71uzkk2

Proof of life! 🌸 Apologies for the radio silence, lovelies. Things have been kinda wild behind the scenes for this immunocompromised, chronically-ill butt. 😂 It looks like the situation is going to improve soon, so please look forward to it! 💕 https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ-40k-rlNW/?igshid=185es2t0hqtih

Too late for Kimono Day but not too late for #KimoNovember! 🌸🌸🌸 I'd originally wanted to do something super fancy for Kimono No Hi, but decided that I should celebrate it with a kimono that's very special to me. This is my first yukata, bought on my first trip to Japan back in July 2016. Little did I know it would be the first piece in what is now a rather extensive collection 😂 May this kitsuke be one of many, many more! 💕 #VanDoesKitsuke https://www.instagram.com/p/CH1tDJlp9vt/?igshid=jwxkk35r1sxi

What do you miss most about life pre-2020? 💕 I miss being able to go out with friends and having random shoots because we felt like it. 🥺 Someday again, maybe. Right now is still too risky for my immunocompromised butt to be out for leisure 😭 Photo by my IG Wifey @milkywrites 💕 https://www.instagram.com/p/CHXPZ7cpuWw/?igshid=bjwruwp30ej4

My face when he says he'll buy me that furisode I've been eyeing. 😍HAHAHAHA Officially my first full kitsuke! Feeling like a princess in this tsukesage and obi from @kananokitsuke and kanzashi commissioned from @miyokolouissekimono 💕 I've worn yukata a few times in the past, and I've practiced tying obi, but never really went all out until this. Torso padded, hair styled, everything as neat as I can manage. 😂 This is far from perfect, but I hope to improve my kitsuke skills each time I get dressed up. 💖 Still working on clearing space for a home studio so I can take better OOTD shots 😭 https://www.instagram.com/p/CG13HJjpepg/?igshid=1g2ol66yuog2f

#VansFavoriteThings: Cats! 😻 Spotted this kitty hanging around during a property shoot. The house was vacant, so I'm guessing it's a stray that made itself feel very much at home. 😂 Also, a quick note: I don't get to see or experience my favorite things that often since we've been in varying levels of "quarantine" for the last 7 months and I've been avoiding going out, even though places are re-opening. I'll still be posting #VansFavoriteThings, but not as often as I'd like, for now. 🥺 https://www.instagram.com/p/CGp-983pfNm/?igshid=1siox2vk1oqg8

Mentally, I'm at the beach, listening to the waves crashing on the shore. Physically, I'm sitting in our old office trying to pack up our family business. Got some heavy lifting to do even if I'm exhausted 💪💪💪 goodbye to my energy levels for the rest of the week! 🙃🙃🙃 Really looking forward to resting this weekend. (at Seda Lio, El Nido, Palawan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF1YEHCpNSY/?igshid=107h2h9flv0e6

This talkative dumpling hit 100 followers on stream today! 💖 So so grateful for my little community~ ✨✨✨ Come hang out with us? Link in bio 🥰 #sailorvanchan https://www.instagram.com/p/CFfBGXapMWb/?igshid=1tusomoxiawv5

#VansFavoriteThings: Photography 😍 This is something I "inherited" from my dad, and these were our first DSLRs! I enjoy documenting things but it's really just a hobby for now, as proven by how so few of the photographs I take actually make it into the public space 😅 I should probably work on that, huh? https://www.instagram.com/p/CFM0CM5pen1/?igshid=1asxhhodf3c4a

It would've been 4 years today, it feels like so long ago. 🥺 I've branched out into another form of broadcast since I lost my radio job, though, and it's honestly so cool that streaming allows me to interact with my audience. So grateful for my little community who believes in this talkative dumpling. 💖💖💖 #sailorvanchan https://www.instagram.com/p/CFBuueEJhQq/?igshid=g5el6y81x3rq

Was my last Wellness Check really back in April? 😱 We’ve been in quarantine for 6 months now and it’s been wearing down on me. 1. STAY ACTIVE – There’s a reason I got Just Dance 2020 on the Switch, y’all. 😂 I’ve been doing extended play at least once a week, and trying to walk/jog for at least 10 minutes on most days. Since my last wellness check, I’ve lost 4kg, so… yay, progress? I’m not in a rush 🥔 and I highly doubt I’m gonna be going out for a while, so I can definitely take it slow. 2. EAT MODERATELY - I don’t really binge, but sometimes I still go for a full cup of rice bwahaha. Oh, and I had large fries a few weeks ago, after 6 months of not having them. 🤪 3. STAY HYDRATED – I have failed miserably at this, judging by the number of heat exhaustion episodes I’ve had lately. Water jugs and ice packs are my friends now. 4. GET ENOUGH SLEEP – Doing pretty solid on the 8 hours of sleep… doing it on schedule is a different story. 😂 5. BE MORE PRESENT – Since my last wellness check, I have been TOO present for other people. Now I need to be more present for myself. 6. KEEP CREATING – Oof, still working on this. I stopped doing my monthly cosplays after May, not because I’m uninspired, but my energy has just waned significantly in the last few months. I’ve been more focused on streaming, but I do have some creative outlets I hope to share with y’all sometime. ❤ 7. BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE – RIP💀 Nah just kidding, I've gone all TREAT YO SELF a couple of times lately but I’m still stable, I promise. 😅 8. PURGE WHAT I DON'T NEED – Still working on this. The donate/sell pile continues to grow… 9. STAY KIND – I’ve been trying, but it’s really hard not to think mean thoughts when some people seem to actually CHOOSE to be horrible. 10. LOVE MYSELF – Recently I’ve been stepping back from a lot of people who have drained me of energy by overstepping boundaries, and I’ve been trying not to check on news too often. It's been overwhelming. I'm in a weird middle ground rn, mental health kinda iffy, physical health getting better(?), and still trying to strike a balance. Hoping next check-in will be better! Take care, everyone! ❤❤❤ https://www.instagram.com/p/CE51D4bJSjP/?igshid=jw760tagddob