Twenty-Four Candles

I remember saying last year on my birthday that I was "twenty-three and no wiser". The opposite could be said for this year. I've changed so much as a person and I have learnt so so much.... This birthday I wanted to make it special. The year before I had spent mine alone and was just going through a lot and so I really tried to make this one happen for myself.

I did a massive haul-clothes and make up to wear out and also for school. I upgraded my dying hand bag. Got some on-sale make for my face and also so I could blog a lot more. Basically, I had treated myself well. When my actual birthday came around, I treated myself well even further. It was on a Saturday this year and I really wanted to take advantage of that fact. 

So out to San Francisco I went wearing a really cute Golds Infinity one piece dress. It's a bit more modern of a dress admittedly but I really loved it. To be twenty-four years old, I really wanted to dress like a lady and truly enjoy myself in the classiest of ways. I decided to not fully make plans with anyone and just have whomever show up. Thankfully my best friend Isabel was down for the the ride. 

Early morning her and I take the BART together. This was the first time I had taken the BART since my last birthday. It felt a bit strange doing so but it wasn't bad at all. We got off at Montgomery Station and made way to the 38 for Japan Town. 

My morning beforehand was full of hiccups. But it wasn't complete without my damn dress malfunctioning. There were these gorgeous pearls on this Golds Infinity one piece and the string for some reason just decided to snap and the pearls just rolled down RIGHT BEFORE the Laguna Street stop for Japan Town. I was super depressed because I couldn't even salvage them. :( 

Happy b-day to me right?

Anyway nothing else happened to my dress (thank god) but I was still pretty bummed because the pearl attachments were what made me fall in love with this dress. Who the hell uses that cheap of string?! UGH... So glad I didn't pay retail price! 

So we get to Japan Town and troll around a bit. I eventually run into my cute fujoshi friend Tiffiny (hay gurl hayyyyyy) and later on Len and their other really cute friend who I was too shy to introduce myself to (I am REALLY awkward and painfully shy...I'm so sorry guys ;~; especially towards cosplayers. I have no idea why...I used to be a cosplayer but for some reason I always get intimidated like 'wahhhh do we have anything in common? what do I say to you?!!' ahahaha -shot to death-) and we lurked around Kinokuniya for bit. Tiffiny dragged me away to the yaoi and we spazzed over Ten Count. <3 <3 <3 

Afterward Isabel and I were feeling hungry but before we got wrecked and before it left my damn mind I was SO DETERMINED that we were taking PuriKura. Mainly because while Isabel and I have been best friends for eleven years, I don't have a PuriKura with just her. She's in plenty of my others with other friends but I don't have one with JUST her and I. So I was super set that before it slipped my mind that we were going to do it.

We did the new Rumor machine which I've chosen before. It's a really classy machine. I really do miss the sparkles of the other machines though. I could 'kira-kira' for days in those. -cry- 

Afterward we did Mifune Don-ordered a couple appetizers to share (because we are fucking adults) and a main dish. Hers was wakame udon and mine was okonomiyaki because I live for that stuff. I really like that this place has been my high school spot and Isabel and I have tended to go there lots. We've hit there, the crepe places, Izumiya I'm sure....Iroha before it became Yamadaya. It just felt like old times and was enjoyable. 

After majorly fooding we walked our legs off shopping. We literally went into CandyDoll beauty and busted bank. Especially me.75.00 out the damn window. I found a lovely Holika Holika mascara that I have no regrets buy, the Sailor Mars eyeliner which I previously reviews, my holy grail Cure Aqua Gel to get the gross shit off of my face, and a couple of face masks because I literally ran out sheet masks a bit ago and was pretty sad about it. The Cure Aqua Gel is what brought up the price but no regrets. I tested it on my hand and just knew that I had to have it. 

I ended up going on a hunt for my shampoo later. I've been on a huge Ichikami hair care fix. I literally CAN NOT use anything else after using this shit. It's a bit depressing because clearly it's hard to access if you're not near a grocery store that has it and you're not willing to bust out the shipping online. Regardless I found it at Nijiya and afterward FINALLY ran into Vale and Jett who came to see me on my birthday.

It was really sad because Isabel found them before I did. Like wtf...? We decided to go for Mitsu Teahouse mainly because I've seen everyone have it since Cherry Blossom Festival back in April. It was pretty decent. The guys got shaved ice for a portion of the price that Sno-crave/Snowflake costs but in a cup for one instead of that huge plate... I gotta try it next time! 

Afterward we waited for my friend Momo to show up-eventually she did looking hella cute with her odango. It was so nice catching up with her because I hardly see her and I'm hardly ever in San Francisco as much as I used to be. It was a nice time and she eventually ended up having to go to work.

Afterward we met up with the sheep (aka Aaron) with Isabel and the guys. Raided the mall for just a second. Color matched that kid in like...less than three minutes because he wanted make up. He thought Mac was too sparkley so I pushed him the direction of Kat Von D's concealer, foundation, and eye contour palette. He did get the mineral powder from Mac though. Now if only sheep could figure out how to make up... OTL

The favorite part of the trip arrived. Everyone trekked a mile and a half across the city walking all for gelato. It was such a relaxing walk honestly and it was to a place that I hadn't went to since my high school years. I had been wanting to take friends to this gelato place for ages but I've always wanted to walk it for the sake of re-living my teenage years. The area has changed a lot in five/six years. It's a bit crazy how time has flown and how much has changed...

I literally skipped to Naia once we got close to it. I ordered six flavors of gelato in a cup with no fucks given. The place has been around for ages and is in a relaxing little location. They're known to have a good array of flavors and I'm hoping everyone enjoyed.

We ended up busing it back to downtown because nobody wanted to walk it. I was the only crazy bitch up for that. ahaha maybe another time. Isabel ended up leaving and we basically traded her out for Sara who had went to TwitchCon that day..

All of piled up in Jett's car and ran up to Yamadaya for ramen. Ramen just sounded good and they happen to be open rather late. Sara wanted a crepe fix first. xD I have no idea how she managed it all. I ended up ordering ramen and takoyaki and the last two pieces of takoyaki I ended up shoving over to Jett.

Afterwards we dropped off the sheep and ended up going to Round One in San Jose since I had never been. We picked up Sara's bf and was on our way and at hella late. We ended up meeting up with Jobi and her husband (long time so see lovelies :D) and derping around the place. PuriKura, MarioKart, and sobbing over crane machines enissued. At two am we called it a night and went the hell home after a long long day out...

It was a really randomly great birthday experience. I haven't adventured like that in the longest time. I felt like I relived so many experiences that I left behind in my youth and also got to try out new things with good friends.