Squishes and cuddles for all of you! Thank you for your kind birthday wishes. (I landed on this planet on August 17th.)

Many of you asked if I’m celebrating. Next week, I’m in Fresno and LA for Ani-Jam — and yes, there’s a sparkly Hollywood party in the works… Flyer and details to come.

Next week’s a wild one. I will reveal several big new travel TV projects, and unveil a cute design collaboration. Life is crazy. Things are happening.

So for my actual birthday, you can understand that all I want to do is snuggle my Scottish Fold cat, Basil Farrow.

There have been some stormy waters, and I’ve been doing a bit of reflecting lately. And I’ve come to some revelations.

My pirate ship keeps on sailing — whether there’s a million people on board, or only me and my cat.

So don’t let any anchors weigh you down. Throw em overboard. Or better yet, make them walk the plank.

If you try to change who you are, for the sake of getting ahead, you’ll lose yourself. And people will see right through you.

I’m steering this ship: I know who I am, what I love to do, and what/who makes me happy. And I owe it to all of you spooky kids to keep going strong.

So that’s my little birthday present to you, along with these cute kitty photos.

If you feel like supporting the site, you can by…
1) Clicking this Google Plus One button:
2) Giving a Facebook thumbs up (below):

3) And please keep in touch by joining my Facebook page, so you’ll be the first to get Tokyo fashion coverage and news. Simply click below…

Again, thank you for your birthday messages. I could’t do any of this without you.

Song of the Day: Nirvana – Come As You Are

Hold onto your top hats: Sebastiano Serafini and La Carmina are returning to California!

We’re being flown in as Guests of Honor at Ani-Jam anime convention in Fresno, CA (near Los Angeles and San Francisco). Seba and I will be leading panel discussions, and hanging out… we hope to meet you there!

WHAT: Ani-Jam anime convention
WHERE: Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 2233 Ventura Street, Fresno, CA
WHEN: August 20 and 21, 2011
PRICE: Here’s the link to discounted registration for you. Only $25 for 2 days of fun.

Please tell your friends and save the date. Can’t wait to see you.

I’m continuing to spruce up my website (I hope the blog is loading faster, especially for overseas readers). The Media section has been re-vamped, so that all my press clippings and links are on one page.

Profiles include: The New Yorker, Washington Post, WWD, Village Voice, Fox News and LA Times.

I’m always open to answering interview questions. If you’d like me to participate in an interview or feature, feel free to contact me.

Big hug to Samantha Parkinson for the beautiful artwork above. She wrote: “I have been enjoying your blog and reading about your adventures and travels for several years, and thought I would create a piece of art as a gift for you.”

Got a drawing of me and/or my cat, Basil Farrow? I invite you to submit it, and I’ll post it on my blog, with links and credit to you.

PS: Please keep the entries coming to win hair bows & accessories! It’s simple to enter; the instructions are here.

I’m enjoying your Facebook comments about your summer plans and goals. I’m responding to everyone’s questions and giving advice; I hope you find it helpful. (To participate, leave a comment on my Wall.)

Song of the Day: Lime – Come And Get Your Love (A total Italo Disco summer track.)

I’m going back to TOKYO! La Carmina & The Pirates have locked down a big new TV job (research, translation, arranging, hosting), from late July to August. But first, I’m tackling a travel hosting project… in Wisconsin? Details below, keep scrolling.

(I’m wearing t-shirts from our HOPE collection, with funds going to the Japan earthquake and tsunami victims. You can learn more and nab one here, thanks for your support.)

Naomi and I are the Tokyo fixers for Strangers in Danger, a ridiculous travel adventure show — starring BMX riders Zach “Catfish” Yankush, and Mike “Rooftop” Escamilla (perhaps you know him as Kat Von D’s roommate on LA Ink). The guys take on ridiculous and risky challenges in each country they visit, from deactivating Vietnamese landmines to biking Bolivia’s road of death.

We can’t reveal what we have planned for the Japan episode, but with Pirates involved… bring on the crazy! Strangers in Danger premieres September 6th on Fuel TV, and will be distributed internationally by National Geographic and Discovery Channel. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on my appearance. (You can see my previous TV clips on my YouTube.)

This is my first return to Tokyo since the earthquake; I’m curious to see if/how things have changed. I’ll be sure to take plenty of photos for you, like these Sweet Lolita ones from the 2009 Gackt concert. (More pics and show review here).

But first, I’m headed to a place I’ve never been… Wisconsin, USA! Why? How? I can’t tell you yet, but it’s for a project involving travel, culture, and on-camera hosting. (Basil Farrow will miss me, as always…)

All in all, the TV work’s been coming along nicely. You can find out more about The Pirates on our site. In addition to film arranging and hosting, we also offer coolhunting, subculture consulting, and Japan brand connecting.

Coming up, more pop culture and fashion reports from Italy and Hong Kong… and the travels aren’t about to end. Seba and I are lining up several more sponsored trips this year. We’ll keep you posted on our whereabouts.

What type of Tokyo coverage would you like to see on my blog? Stores, concerts, people, events? To start, I have a zillion Tokyo Gothic Lolita Punk store photos from 2008-11.

PS: Would you kindly add my Facebook Page and give my site a thumbs up (click below)? Thanks you, Pirates! We couldn’t do any of this without you.

Song of the Day: Jack Off Jill – My Cat (“is amazing… he can play the guitar…”)

Back to Hong Kong for a quick science lesson… involving hard liquor! I subjected myself to cocktail experiments at Hush, a mod bar in Lan Kwai Fong / Central, Hong Kong. Mixologist Gibson Chan specializes in molecular cocktails, using ingredients and techniques typically found only in labs.

In this new video, Gibson shows La Carmina how to make a deconstructed margharita, with a salty foam created with a fish tank pump. Then, he mixes a cocktail made with what looks like caviar — but what is it really? Watch the video to find out!

I was happy to learn that the strange-looking powders were actually made from natural ingredients. Each drink was a topsy-turvy experience — the flavors and textures turn the expected on its head. Sip a glow-in-the-dark cocktail at Hush, 2 Glenealy in Central, Hong Kong.

I also went to Ozone, the rooftop bar of the new Ritz Carlton Kowloon. My ears popped as the elevator shot up to the 118th floor. But it was worth it for the killer view of Hong Kong at night, with nothing overhead but the sky.

I know my life is confusing lately… so many travels and projects! I re-designed part of my website to reflect the changes. Here’s a breakdown of my current work:

† BLOGGING: I post near-daily about my underground fashion and travel adventures.
† TV HOSTING & COOLHUNTING: My Pirates business is currently in overdrive. We have our hands full with Tokyo TV jobs and subculture consulting (such as introducing Western buyers to Gothic Lolita Punk brands.)
† WRITING: In addition to my current columns, I’m writing for AOL Travel. My three J-pop books are also available here.
† FASHION DESIGNING: We just released the HOPE t-shirts to benefit Japan. You can see my previous clothing collections here and below.

These pages may also be helpful…
† BIO: A summary of my work, along with my TV show clips.
† PHOTOS: A gallery of my Goth-cute outfits and makeup.
† PRESS: Media mentions.

† CONTACT: Email me if you’re interested in sponsorships, advertorials, collaborations – or simply want to say hi! I try to reply to all messages, especially on my social networks.

Funny how I’ve become Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. There’s more international travel in the works, and major projects involving TV and fashion. Soon, all shall be revealed!

PS: I’m featured in a new Spanish book called Coolhunting Digital: A la caza de las ultimas tendencias. In the “Colaboradores” section, I’m photographed and interviewed about my work as a subculture/underground coolhunter.

I invite you to browse the new website pages; I hope they present a clearer picture of my work. And please enjoy my new video, where the Hush bartender walks us through molecular cocktail-making. There’s more fun food and bizarre theme restaurants on my YouTube channel (please subscribe).

Have you heard of molecular gastronomy before, or tried it? Do you consider it a mind-opening experience, or an overrated trend?

Song of the Day: Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me With Science

Happiness…. our HOPE charity t-shirts to benefit Japan are available for sale! You can pick up our special design from the Like Atmosphere website (they’ll ship internationally).

Sebastiano Serafini and La Carmina co-founded the HOPE project, a t-shirt line with proceeds going to the victims of the Japan tsunami and earthquake. Various artists contributed designs, which were printed on superior-quality cotton by Japanese brand Like Atmosphere.

Our design (above), by Alice and the Cat (left), was inspired by Seba and Carmina. The artist says, “The concept is love. In difficult times, embrace and love one another, and let’s help to build a better future.”

The t-shirt has the striking HOPE logo, and a Goth-aristocrat manga drawing of Seba and me. Red, white and black colors symbolize Japan.

The HOPE family includes a range of styles. On the right, Sebastiano wears the “holding egg” t-shirt by Like Atmosphere.

Here, we’re modeling the “Glue-boy” tee by Ricardo Cavolo, “Hinomaru” shirt by Phuc Van Dang, and “Patched” by Like Atmosphere. All of these designs can be purchased online here.

I’m so pleased with how the photos turned out! The shooting took place in Milan, in a studio near the Duomo.

Carlo Travaglio of Context Productions was wonderful to shoot with. He worked fast, and rocked the colors and contrast.

He also works on fashion apps, videos, and other multi-media projects — very cool.

Let’s support Japan in style! We hope you’ll pick up our HOPE charity t-shirt here (ships internationally, PayPal accepted). Available in men and women’s sizes, M or L.

PS: if you send a photo of yourself wearing the shirt, we’ll put it on the Like Atmosphere site!

Thank you for supporting our nonprofit work. Big hugs if you can help us get the word out on the HOPE t-shirts — perhaps you could write a blog post or Facebook note? You’re free to use these images; just link back to www.lacarmina.com

What do you think about our HOPE charity t-shirt project? Have you been continuing to help Japan’s recovery?

Song of the Day: Anosphere – New Hope (I heart space disco.)