Mulling over consumerism, yet again

[mmymoon]

Greetings, friends!

I had fits of woe last night over IKEA discontinuing this awesome frame I've totally been wanting for months (IKEA doesn't do online ordering for most things, or I would've bought it like woah ages ago) and I WILL NEVER OWN IT NOW AND THAT MAKES ME SAD. If anyone goes to an IKEA and sees them still for sale, I would pay for shipping and your trouble..!

Thus, I've been re-examining the items I wish to purchase lately.


Item: Anna Sui brush holder and Anna Sui vanity tray. I LOVE BLACK PLASTICS. I might try to get, I don't know, a comb or mirror or something to go with them, but I really just want those... there are cute rose-shaped Anna Sui makeup brushes, but as I'm convinced Aromaleigh's Brown Faux brushes are the BEST EVER, I won't be wasting money on crappier, more expensive brushes.

... seriously, the Brown Faux brushes are DIVINE. That's another item, actually; I'd like to snag a few more to replace my MAC brushes, which I never want to use anymore. (They're that good!) But it's not much of a splurge, since they're so affordable!


Item: Black BTSSB hanky. This is so ridiculously stupid and wasteful and furthermore, stupid. I... I can't yet talk myself out of wanting it, though. Because it's got a little chess print! So cute! I use hankies all the time! (And yes, I'm the sort who would blow her nose right into the expensive bit of fabric. That's what they're FOR.) Someone please beat me until I stop wanting it.


Item: I need a new everyday purse -- my Dollhouse purse is adorable, but I'm wearing it out by using it everyday, and that I would like to keep nice for fancy meetups and such. And the design isn't really wonderful for an everyday purse. (It's just fine if one is fancy and aware of oneself, but grocery shopping? Not so much.) I considered something like this Tokidoki bag, but ehhhhhhhhhh. I just want a black bag, really. Maybe I can make something suitably cute -- or go dig out one of my old messenger bags and modify it a bit. Hmm.


Item: Laduree doggie/kitty bag - scroll down a bit! vivcore got me the most gorgeous black-with-chandeliers bag from Laduree, and it's the most perfect useful thing... just the right size! So I think I'll have another! (Luckily, there are lots of shops on eBay who specialize in going and getting Laduree goodies!)


Item: Winter Coat. Kind of a gamble as to what it will actually look like, considering the sort of shop it is, but they have good feedback (paying it wasn't like the pictures, but cute) and hey, it's $60.

Have you ever tried to obtain an actually cute, WOMAN'S coat that would fit someone who is 5'10" and built like a linebacker? Not so easy...

I'd still like a cape, but I don't feel like sewing one yet, and I cannot entrust anyone to commission one, because I want it lined with flannel, and that's apparently some kind of textile sin that most people cannot fathom. (Yes, I know it sticks to one's clothes -- however, it's a cape. It's not a big deal. I used to have one, in a ridiculous shade of electric royal blue.)


Item: Mama Told Me Momoko... you know I'm going to get her eventually. I suppose I should start trolling Y!J to keep my eye out. (Less oblivious people! Rinkya or Celga? Or other?)
I really should've gotten her from Junkyspot when she was cheap and easy to find, but... hum. Maybe I will sell some Pullips I ignore to finance her; anyone selling big-headed dolls lately? Is it awful?

Comments

[kalmiaxxi.livejournal.com]

It's so rarely worth it to do IKEA online ordering even when it IS available. I tried to order a single small piece of furniture and was nearly hit in the face with a $300+ shipping charge. The piece itself cost less than half of the estimated shipping, so, uh, no. I guess IKEA only really makes sense to the handful of people who are local to one. Oh well.

Thank you for the brush recommendation! I've been needing some good ones, so your link comes at just the right time! ♥

For Mama Told Me Momoko, try this link for current search results.

http://search.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/search/auc?p=mama+told+me&orp=momoko+%A5%E2%A5%E2%A5%B3&norp=&alocale=0jp&acc=jp&which_cat=other_cat&other_cat=0&auccat=0&aucminprice=&aucmaxprice=&aucmin_bidorbuy_price=&aucmax_bidorbuy_price=&loc_cd=0&abatch=0&istatus=0&gift_icon=0

There's one up there now, but she's the white-haired version, and I don't think that's what you want. You can bookmark the RSS feed to keep up with new listings.

http://search.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/search_rss?p=mama+told+me&orp=momoko+%A5%E2%A5%E2%A5%B3&norp=&alocale=0jp&acc=jp&which_cat=other_cat&other_cat=0&auccat=0&aucminprice=&aucmaxprice=&aucmin_bidorbuy_price=&aucmax_bidorbuy_price=&loc_cd=0&abatch=0&istatus=0&gift_icon=0

I don't think Celga is taking orders right now, are they? I know Rinkya is, but they are pretty expensive as far as such things go. I have a one-man shopping service that I swear by, but he's only accepting new customers with a referral from an existing customer right now. I can give you one if you're interested! As long as you don't plan on bidding on anything over 50,000 yen, you're good to go. For bigger ticket items, Shopping Mall Japan or Crescent Shop are both good bets.

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

Waaaaah. I wanted that frame! Sadly, I'm even... sort-of local. (It's pretty much a Whole Day's Trip to go, about 2 hours away and fighting traffic in a truck, and nothing else I want to do in that area, so.) If I had wanted something bigger, sooner, I would've gone and gotten my lovely frame... my mother even went about a week ago, but I didn't think to ask her to pick it up (if it was even still here). SIGH. I really prefer IKEA over places like Target, but... so frustrating. I looooove IKEA stylistically, but yeah, I can't get there often enough for it to be truly awesome.

Heh, I know I'm not cool for saying this, but you know where I've had REALLY GOOD LUCK getting furniture? ... Wal-mart's Site-to-Store feature. Anything in-stock online will magically appear at your local one, without shipping cost. I've gotten a lot of bulky items (like memory foam mattresses) easily with that!


GET THE BROWN FAUX BRUSHES. They are the most lovely, soft, pigment-picking-up, soft, soft soft soft brushes, for ridiculously inexpensive prices. My MAC brushes are okay... but honestly, now that my skin has gotten more sensitive, I've been reluctant to use them. I got the Brown Faux smudger and it's EXACTLY what I need -- buttery soft, but picks up pigment really well. If the full set of brushes weren't sold out, I'd advise you to get that. ($100 something, but Aromaleigh always runs 20% coupons and such -- there's one on now, check her blog! The price of three of the MAC brushes.) But, you can use the coupon on whichever you get -- aside from the big face brushes, they'll come out to a few dollars each! (I want the jumbo buffer, though. Mmmm.)


Thank youuuu! I saw her -- while yeah, I want the regular version, it heartens me to see that the Special Version is both listed, and not ridiculously expensive. I still wish I had gotten her earlier, but... eh, I can save up.

Ha, not sure; I had a Celga account ages ago... I've mostly avoided getting shopping service accounts because I know it's easy to go NUTS on there. A recommendation would be great! <3 I'm not sure when I'll get her though, depending on listings and such. I think I need her, though... I recently found a lot of the other little Momoko bits I've been looking for, so it's really just her missing. (I wouldn't mind some of the others, like Everyday B Girl, but they won't fit in with the pink shelf anyway! Good Night Cherry Pink would, but uh... I'm not going to think about that. She's not as must-have-gorgeous as MTM, to me, either.)

[kalmiaxxi.livejournal.com]

I wish they'd think of opening up locations in more places, but after seeing an IKEA store in person for the first time recently, I think I kind of understand why they don't. I don't think I have ever seen such a MASSIVE single store in my entire life. I lost count of the number of times that I got lost in the place. Not just turned around, genuinely holy-shit-where-the-fuck-am-I-and-how-did-I-get-here lost. Unreal. o_O;;;

Hey, it's uncool, but I still maintain that if K-Mart sells cheap and Target sells budget designer labels, Wal-Mart sells sheer convenience. It is hard for anyone to compete on that level of convenience. Where else am I going to go if I want a copy of Mario Kart at 11 PM? I know I'm not the only person who has random late-night shopping urges. That's why Wal-Mart exists, plain and simple. I've heard a lot of good things about that feature, honestly... I just haven't had a need to try it yet. I do still need a few things for the apartment, so I may have to give it a try! Thank you for the rec, once again! ♥

Hmm, I'm almost tempted to wait for a restock and get the full set, if they're that good. It's such a pain in the ass to realize too late that you're lacking one particular brush that would make your life that much easier. $100-something is REALLY good for a nice set of brushes, considering how expensive MAC and other brands seem to run. Although it might just make me want to buy a zillion new eyeshadows to "test" them with, so maybe that's a bad idea... ^w^

It's disheartening to see items that I saw in years past suddenly disappear and become exorbitantly expensive! Last time I was in Tokyo, I remember checking out the doll section of Closet Child in Ikebukuro and seeing a secondhand Mama Told Me on the shelf. Being secondhand, she probably wasn't even that expensive. *kicks self* But sellers have a way of surprising you! Anyway, if the Special Version is so accessible, I can't imagine that the regular version would cost much more.

I messaged you with the details! Good luck!! It is pretty easy to go nuts at the beginning, at least, since the fees are so comparably low. But it's okay to indulge a little! My personal vice: searching for Sailor Moon/Licca/whatever dolls and sorting them with the lowest prices first. People will sell them for NOTHING with just a little tangled hair and dirt, just to be rid of them. It's amaaaazing.

If you want a pink shelf Momoko, skip the Good Night Cherry Pink (whom I like better with brown hair, anyway) and just scoop up a Momoko with good paint, then chop her hair off and plop on a tiny-sized pink mohair wig. Instant pink curls! In fact, here's one right now! I'm not a huge fan of rerooting where it's not necessary, but I do love me some floofy mohair. ♥ ♥

I just now noticed that I used "is" and "are" together in referring to Celga... AND Rinkya. Forgive me! It's late! Even on the internet, usually I speak English better than this. *facepalm*

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

Hahahah, Mom used to drag me to IKEA a lot when I was little... so I'm used to it. (The old one here even had a play-space area! With babysitting and cool toys! Those were the days...) I can see why they don't have more, but... but... it's such an AWESOME giant store.

Dude, totally. Actually, my cousin and brother and I were debating going out for a Wii game he wants earlier tonight. (I simply find it funny that people think Target is somehow magically better... no, no, the stuff is trendier, but it's not like they treat their employees any better!) We don't have K-mart around here, so I've never really gotten to scope them out... which is sad, since I think Martha Stewart used to do stuff for them? Not sure... but yeah, W-M doesn't have the best styles, but if there's something you actually want (particularly utilitarian things) the site-to-store feature is soooooooooooooo convenient.

You might! Although they sold out pretty quickly after they were introduced... hmm, I should just email her and ask if she plans to restock anytime soon. I want brushes! It's not quite that I regret buying my MAC ones, as it was pretty long ago that I did, but these are so much nicer... I still recommend MAC's brush cleaner as the best I've tried so far, though! (Costs more than one of the Brown Faux brushes. HA.) As far as testing goes... Aromaleigh always includes free samples! And she sells samples of all shadows before you commit, which I LOVE. And even my Big Splurges on her site were, honestly, not so bad. I got the ENTIRE Gothic Lolita collection. :3 I want some of the Bete Noir shadows -- I sampled them, and there are some really gorgeous smoky colors.

Aromaleigh can't quite compete with everything (MAC lip products win, hands down) but I wholeheartedly endorse her for ANY powder-based product or related tool. (Her primer/eyeshadow base is better than MAC paint pots or UDPP, in my opinion, too, and the concealers are great.)

Closet Child in Ikebukuro and seeing a secondhand Mama Told Me on the shelf ........ waaaaah! XD;;;;;;;;;;;;;

But yeah, hopefully I can find her! I think the last time I checked Y!J I saw the regular version for not much over retail. I'll have to email the guy tomorrow when I can think! <3 (I've got Paypal, hahah!)

When I first started doll collecting, I had a Celga or somesuch account... and I totally did that, I bought a bunch of cheap, adorable Licca and anime dolls. (Tokyo Mew Mew Licca! Hello Kitty Stormtrooper Licca!) Those were the days... I don't think I have SPACE for too many dolls, but a couple of Momokos wouldn't be so bad. (Cory really adores Momoko, too!) I love the weird Licca -- I should've gotten more of Tikistitch's Liccas when she sold them -- but I got Rough Trade and a few nice generic pink ones, so I'm pretty good. (I might get Gorgeous Gold and Punk Gal eventually, but I'm worried they'd end up in a box.)


I agree about Good Night Cherry looking better in brown. (I'm tempted by the brown one more than the pink, honestly!)

I dyed Kana's hair a few days ago, did you see? http://kingdomofcute.com/2009/Momokana.jpg And actually, I did just what you recommend, not to a Momoko, but to my Unoa Lite: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmymoon/2833722349/ Creeeeeeeeeeepy dolls.

I love ME some floofy mohair, too! (Hahaha, the only thing keeping me from wigging ALL of them is that I think they might end up looking redundant. But I'm so tempted to.) Wigging is SO much easier than rerooting, but it... was hard to find them. (I've made most of mine! I think Unola's wig is a Tinybear one.) I wish Soom had been selling mohair wigs when I got my Uyoo! Of course, after Aren came out, I wish I had her, but. I prefer the plastic girls in that scale, anyway.

I still love dolls so hard; I think I've just grown really picky in my, mwahaha, old age. (Collector old age, at least?)

Don't worry, sweetie; it's late and random businesses (who may be run by single people) are hard to conjugate, anyway... I should go to sleep myself, but... but... dolls!

[kalmiaxxi.livejournal.com]

Oh, also! I haven't tried selling any Pullips in a while, but EBL Blythes (even in crappy condition) are selling like CRACK, if you have any lying around. Instant hundreds of dollars! o_O

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

Oh shiz!

Hmmm, my only EBLs are Love Mission and Cinnamon Girl, and they're both heavily customized. While I neglect them, they're ones I love/am proud of. So. But dang! Maybe in another five years, SBLs will become the new hot item. XD

[miwedhel.livejournal.com]

You know....we live 10 minutes from the Woodbridge IKEA now.....



...


Just sayin'. :)

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

You DO? That gives us an excuse to go shopping! XD

I mean, we truly ought to be visiting anyway, but I know where Woodbridge is, which is half of the battle. (And if we do get to go to IKEA, it's not the soul-less "I just spend the entire day just to go to one store" feeling.)

If you happen to pop in anytime soon and see that frame...! I think they JUST clearanced it. Sigh.

We should do something before it gets cold again! I'm mostly reptile now... I go out when it's warm...

[hooveraardvark.livejournal.com]

http://thevalleyofthedolls.com/dollshop.php/Pre-Order/LaLa

WHAT DO YOU THINK

she looks a lot like fantastic alice to me.

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

She looks like, whatsis, what was that first American exclusive? Haute?

Kinda blah if you already have a blonde girl, imho. I would think they would've done something more ~unusual~ for the special-special VotD Comic Con exclusive.

[hooveraardvark.livejournal.com]

yeah she kind of does. i was sad she was not a nerdy pullip, like a superhero or something. :( weird that they just did a normal 60s girl instead.

[hooveraardvark.livejournal.com]

oh and i sold veritas pretty easily, for $65 nude. just price reasonably and you should be fine? although that one girl has been trying to sell panda FOREVER on the pullips community. it's getting kind of ridiculous.

[tikistitch.livejournal.com]

Universal Law of IKEA: IKEA discontinues everything good. Really. The bookcase we liked, the CD case we liked....

I've just been in a long OMG CELGA SUX thread. I mean, actually, it doesn't. I've used it for like 10 years, and if it *really* sucked, I would have started using someone else. Worst points I can find: some people have had bad luck with them not placing bids in time (you're almost always ok if you get the request in 24 hours before the end of the auction). And if you bitch a lot about shipping (that is, if you want them to wait on stuff to combine shipping after they've already got stuff packed), sometimes Keigo (the head dude) will flip out and ban you.

[tikistitch.livejournal.com]

P.S. My Pullips all sold like crack, EXCEPT for the male ones. Also, got a *ton* of International bidders, so don't know if you wanna mess with that or not.

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

Hmm... mine are all deboxed and I hate eBay. I might prod around the Pullip communities. Or maybe not. I hate selling in general, really.

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

That's what my mom complains about, too -- she gets to LOVE a certain series/system, and then goes back for more parts, and they're gone. Foo.

Well, that's... nice... maybe I'll just be looking around for services... I don't think I can buy her this moment, but I've lusted enough at this point that I just need to track her down, I think. I mean... look at her!

[spazzygirl19.livejournal.com]

I have an IKEA not to far away & I've been meaning to go. If I see one of those frames, I'll let you know.

Also - in today's Daily Candy - store.thesensitivebaker.com

A new online bakery that sells nothing but gluten free goods! And they ship all over the U.S. ^_^

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

Thanks! They're probably gone, since they're not on the website... but I keep thinking maybe the stores still have the physical stock.

Oooooooooooooooo! I'm going to have to order. :3 Trader Joe's has some GF licorice scottie dogs (!) that are ADORABLE that I've been splurging on lately.