What a wild year! As New Year’s Eve approaches, let’s take a moment to reminisce. Do you remember my travels and adventures, from last January to June?

I rang in 2011 in Los Angeles, at a Hollywood alt party with Seba and friends. We had a crazy time in LA, with gigs that included modeling for Lip Service.

In March, I was about to go to Japan for two TV hosting jobs (German and Belgian travel shows), and help bring the NOH8 Campaign (a photo-protest against inequality) worldwide. The earthquake struck the week before my flight – and needless to say, everything got cancelled.

First and foremost, I made sure my friends were safe. Seba flew to LA, and we threw ourselves into charity projects for Japan. I also interviewed Black Veil Brides about their experiences during the quake.

Seba and I released a benefit t-shirt with Like Atmosphere, and a panda bear necklace with Soho Hearts. All funds go to helping Japan; you can learn more about the designs here.

Since the disaster shifted my work away from Japan, I broadened my focus to dark culture and travel worldwide. First stop: Hong Kong (where we stayed in a Roomorama apartment) and Macau (for the Galaxy resort opening!)

Favorite memories include visiting the Charlie Brown theme cafe, and baking cute panda bread at my cousin’s cooking school.

Read all my HK and Macau articles, including Gothic Lolita shop recommendations.

This year, my TV hosting work blew up. The Norway host club documentary aired, and won the equivalent of a Grammy award. (Catch up on my video clips.)

I wasn’t able to make it to Wave Gotik Treffen, due to a conflict with a fashion event in Florence. In the next post, I’ll share photos from the second half of 2011: Italy, Tokyo, Wisconsin, Mexico and beyond!

Bonus photo: my extreme makeup for a 1980s Italo Disco party in Milan. The heart sweater is from Mongkok in Hong Kong. Radical.

Did you know I’ve been running this blog since September 2011? You can see the Archives using the drop-down menu on my right sidebar.

What did you accomplish in 2011? Do you feel you grew, or challenged yourself this year? How so?

Song of the Day: Duran Duran – Girl Panic!

So far, I’ve only blogged about Day 1 of our Ani-Jam Convention appearance (as Guests of Honor). Let’s continue with the second day’s adventures. (My hair’s purple now; these photos are from August.)

Can you guess how this remote control affected the bed?

Absinthe necklace: made by my friend Rose
Tank top and holy tights: from Hong Kong
Rose Lolita skirt: from Spider in Hong Kong (see store photos)
Mini Lolita hat: Putumayo, from Closet Child Harajuku
Gothic Lolita dolly shoes: Yosuke, from Marui One Shinjuku

Seba wears Strange Freak rings, and a top by Umbilical. Thanks to everyone who made fanart for us!

The vendor’s area was bursting with colorful cosplayers. Can you identify these characters?

On camera.

I gave over a hundred autographs that day.

We signed some unusual objects, including this mask.

All of Ani-Jam’s guests doodled on a T-shirt. Seba and I both drew cats. You can probably recognize Basil Farrow.

Seba’s panel was a bit of a Sebastrophe… but in the best way possible!

I interviewed him, and we showed photos of our collaborations such as the Soho Hearts panda bear necklace to benefit Japan.

Someone brought our NOH8 photo for us to sign.

Another brought a bunny bag.

In addition to signing his name, Seba drew pictures of me. My cat isn’t that fat, is he?

Thank you to Ani-Jam for inviting us and treating us like royals. And to everyone who came: it was wonderful to meet you!

PS: Have you heard? Japan Tourism proposes giving away 10,000 free round-trip tickets to boost travel. The program hasn’t been confirmed yet. But if it happens, what would be YOUR reason to want to visit Japan? Join the discussion on my Facebook Wall.

I’ve worked with the Japan Tourism Board, so I’ll keep you posted as soon as I hear more.

Song of the Day: Roxette – Listen To Your Heart

Hello dollies… sorry I haven’t been online much. I’ve been working 12-hour days, doing TV shoots for Food Network. And a giant typhoon has just hit Tokyo!

However, I have wonderful news: I will be featured in a 30-minute episode of NHK Kawaii TV. The popular program, airing on Japan’s national broadcaster, covers cute Japanese fashion, trends and people. We’ll be shooting this week in Tokyo; I’ll let you know when my episode airs (and put up a clip).

Speaking of kawaii — dig my Hello Kitty hair. The day after my birthday party, it remained in place.

Zebra zip-top: World Wide Love, from Closet Child Shinjuku. Seba and I share this item, like many of our clothes…
Sunglasses: gifted from Lumete

As usual, we stayed in the Orlando Hotel in West Hollywood. (Remember our review of the LA boutique hotel?)

The Orlando has newly renovated luxury rooms. We were overjoyed to see the staff again, and chomp on green apples from the front desk!

Can’t argue with this view of Los Angeles’ West 3rd Street. It’s lined with adorable boutiques and restaurants, including our beloved Indian hangout — Electric Karma.

And the Orlando is a short ride to M Cafe, one of my favorite eateries on the planet.

As always, Seba and I went to see our friends at Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy in Santa Monica. We love instructor Cindy.

I got my hair twisted into a Hello Kitty bow and crimped!

Since we were by the beach, we went for a stroll — followed by pink grapefruit gelato on Third Street Promenade. I’m wearing HOPE tshirt from our Japan charity collection.

A creative hairstyle, isn’t it? To get the look, put part of your hair in a ponytail, separate, hairspray, and clip in the back. Then twirl a circle and secure it in the middle.

Funny how you can see the shadow of my bow, and Seba’s devil horns.

Have you watched NHK Kawaii TV before? What do you think of the program? Any suggestions for what I should wear, and how I should style my hair?

Song of the Day: Vivid – 69

This year, I had the best birthday to date… a Hello Kitty party at Los Angeles’ glammest nightclub! Huge hugs for Luke and Lenora, who collaborated with me on the event.

And thanks to LA Weekly for featuring my bash in a slideshow, titled La Carmina’s Super Cute Birthday @ Mr. Black LA.

It’s my birthday, and I’ll pile on the makeup if I want to. Glitter, gems, gloss. Two layers of eyelashes.

Seba took the same approach to his hair. Forceful spikes and loads of hairspray.

Doesn’t he look like Cloud from Final Fantasy?

Earlier that day, we made our usual pilgrimage to Toni and Guy, where they styled my hair into a Hello Kitty hair bow. My red dress is by our friend Ako, designer of Blablahospital.

Outside the club (Bardot Hollywood), I met the incomparable Jeff Paice — who made an accessory inspired by my kitty, Basil Farrow!

Ladies of the night: Lenora Claire, La Carmina, Melissa Brown.

Thank you to everyone who came, and got down with dressing up for the theme.

So many creative interpretations of Hello Kitty.

We had VIP table, with a vodka bottle.

Mr Black is infamous for its bare-butt servers. For my birthday, this fellow affixed a Kitty-tattoo!

Yes, my hair is crimped.

So good to see friends, old and new.

Wild things.

A joy to be reunited with Clint Catalyst and Zoetica Ebb.

Thank you to Shannon Cottrell for photographing La Carmina’s birthday for LA Weekly.

Funny story… at first, we didn’t recognize our friend in the middle! Can you guess who it is? Hint: we hung out at the alternative New Year’s party in LA.

What’s the best birthday party you’ve ever thrown, or attended? Wish you were at mine? Maybe next year!

Song of the Day: Air Supply – Making Love Out of Nothing At All (why not? It’s a karaoke favorite for me.)

La Carmina and Seba wind up in the most random of places. This year, we were in LA, Hong Kong, Macau, Italy and Tokyo. And now, we can add Fresno to the list.

Strike a superhero pose: we were guests of honor at Ani-Jam anime convention in California!

Seba wears an h.NAOTO top, Strange Freak silver rings, RJ 1959 bracelet and Algonquins bag. As for the nerd glasses… seems like someone is secretly otaku.

I’m wearing an h.NAOTO tank top, and some of my favorite accessories: spider ring, Monomania bone necklace, Yohji Yamamoto bracelet.

Ani-Jam put us in a humongous room at the Radisson Hotel. One colossal bed and two flat-screen TVs. Even the room service portions were monstrous.

A lobby fit for a Rococo prince.

The convention had a laid-back, friendly vibe. Young people dressed in cosplay, selling Jpop goods.

It was a pleasure to meet all of you who came to support us!

Listed as guests of honor in the brochure.

Pop quiz: Which one of us is wearing a wig?

The first day, I had a panel and autograph session.

I spoke about my work and answered questions from the audience.

Videos of my Scottish Fold cat, Basil Farrow, are always a big hit.

Signing autographs with my cute Rilakkuma bear pen.

Thanks to those who brought gifts! You’re all so sweet and welcoming.

With Miss Hannah Minx, another guest at the comic con.

The organizers took us to dinner at a steakhouse, and we had a raucous time drinking red wine and discussing Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals.

We can’t thank Ani-Jam enough for flying us in and taking such good care of us! The Fresno con is refreshingly free of stress — it’s a place where you can simply hang, enjoy the events and meet new friends. You should consider swinging by next year (perhaps we’ll be there again).

PS: Thank you to whoever made this fan video of La Carmina & Sebastiano Serafini & Basil Farrow!

Have you ever been to an anime convention? What did you think of the experience?

Song of the Day: Andrew Lloyd Webber – Starlight Express