Man of Steel and Trinity Set

Photo by Future Photography by M3 with edit by
SII Posters

Planning a photo shoot with a large team of artists takes time and patience. It took several months to plan a Man of Steel themed photo shoot which included costumers Jason of JET Cosplay, Kevin D Cosplay and photographers Miguel of Future Photography by M3, Marvin of Hero Hotties, Brian of Green House Photography and Piera of Photos and Designs by Piera. The shoot took place in my home thus proving that having a creepy large basement can in fact be good for something. Many people drove a long distance to make the shoot a possibility and when they all arrived, I was dressed up as Queen Elsa from Disneys Frozen (having just returned from entertaining children at a birthday party).  It was exciting that this was finally coming together. I loved the Man of Steel movie and we had an amazing cast of costumers and photographers. We also decided to take things a step further; since Kevin cosplays Batman and I cosplay Wonder Woman, this was a great opportunity to get some Trinity shots.

Two costume changes were required for me for the Man of Steel set; Lois Lane and Faora. After washing off my Elsa makeup and slipping off the blue sparkly gown, I changed into Lois Lane (which requires less makeup than Faora). Superman and Lois shots were taken as well as Superman, Lois and General Zod. 

Have I ever mentioned how much it irritates me that they kept Amy Adams red hair for the role of Lois? I wouldnt have to wear a wig for this if Zack Snyder remained accurate to Lois appearance. Amy Adams doesnt look like Lois Lane in Man of Steel; she just looks like Amy Adams. It took me forever to find a wig this shade of red. Lucky for me I found it at a wig shop local to a relatives house. It was the only orange based red wig in the store priced at $25. It was literally collecting dust on display. It is quite beautiful however and it will be used for Anna from Frozen for parties. 

Next up is Faora which is a costume I have only worn once for a brief shoot earlier this year. Unfortunately with all of the chaos of the day, I forgot to put my belt on and didnt realize it until I saw the photos. Costume fail. The short wig is made of human hair. I tend to feel quite self conscious in it but it photographs well.

After a pizza break, it was time for Zod and Faora to change into Batman and Wonder Woman for some epic Trinity shots and one romantic shot with Superman.

Great times were had behind the camera and a lot of laughs. For some, it was the first time meeting and working with one another and it was an absolute blast. New friendships were made, fond memories and some stunning art. My thanks to all of the artists involved with the shoot whom I am honored to call friends. 

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My Interview with G2A!

Photo by Photos and Designs by Piera. 

I have recently been interviewed by G2A.com. They are a global digital marketplace famous for selling game keys online at very low prices and have partnerships with famous youtubers like PewDiePie. I spoke to Julia who asked questions about my charity work with Heroes Alliance and my hobby as a cosplayer. As a company that is well known in the gaming industry for offering amazing games for the geeks they are also into charity work for children. In 2014 G2A.com, as a team of game enthusiasts joined their forces with another partner and raised over 5 million dollars for the Save the Children organization. Thanks to such actions many children were given a better start and an opportunity to be protected from harm. Check out my interview below!

Photo by Dru Phillips. 

G2A: Tell us something about yourself?

Victoria: My name is Victoria and I have been cosplaying since 2006. My day job is part time Nanny and part time Nursery School Teacher. I run my own birthday party business where I do princess parties. I also work for the non-profit volunteer group, the Heroes Alliance. I have been hired and paid throughout the years by photographers and agencies as a professional  model.

G2A: When did you start cosplaying and what inspired you?

Victoria: I began cosplaying in 2006. I was inspired by a photo of a beautiful cosplayer that my boyfriend showed me. She was at a convention in Japan and was dressed as Rikku from Final Fantasy X-2, which is one of my favorite video games. I was inspired by that photo. The composition was beautiful. The quality of the costume was stunning. She truly breathed life into the character.

G2A: Tell us about the pros and cons of being a cosplayer.

Victoria: Being a cosplayer is creatively liberating. It gives you an avenue to express yourself and your love for a character however you want. The process of putting a costume together is artistic. Its a fun and healthy hobby. Being active in the community, you meet many like minded people and make friends. The friendships formed are the best part. On the negative side, because this hobby is about being seen and photographed, you can be subjected to online bullying which includes racism, sexual harassment and other forms of bullying. Dont tolerate it because you dont deserve it. Block, delete, ban. Do whatever you have to do to flush out the negativity.

G2A: What are the key factors in choosing the best cosplay costume?

Victoria: I can say that the most impressive are those who think outside the box. Also if you bear a strong resemblance to a character, it will make a lasting impression. But theres really no rule book on how to choose the best costume. Just go for what you love and express yourself.

G2A: What is your dream cosplay?

Victoria: I want to be Iron Man!

G2A: Do you have any cosplayer friends that share the same passion for cosplaying?

Victoria: Majority of my friends are cosplayers. The friendships I have made in this community are priceless to me.

G2A: Apart from cosplaying, what are your other hobbies?

Photo by Green House Photography. 

Victoria: I am a huge doll collector. I collect Monster High, Bratz, Ever After High, Disney and Barbie dolls. I am actually more passionate about doll collecting that I am about cosplay. I mediate. Meditation is a very important part of my life.  I am the author of the Confessions of a Cosplay Girl Blog where I write articles about the Hispanic Geek Community, feature my Cosplay Galleries, conduct product reviews, convention coverage and opinion pieces.  Im a book worm and love to read. I love spending time with my two beautiful black cats.

G2A:  I know about your charity work for Heroes Alliance. Could you elaborate further on this topic?

Victoria: The Heroes Alliance is a nationwide non-profit volunteer group. We dress as superheroes and volunteer at local Childrens Hospitals and Childrens Charities that focus on the medically fragile or terminally ill. Our goal is to give them a "real life" super hero experience. The Heroes Alliance is celebrating its 10th year and we have branches all over the country. I am the coordinator for the Eastern Pennsylvania branch. I manage my team of fellow super hero volunteers and handle all of the scheduling for events. Heroes Alliance image Heroes Alliance About Heroes Alliance View on www.heroesalliance.org


G2A:  What is your greatest achievement in Cosplaying?

Photo by Dan Gregory Photography. 

Victoria: Becoming a part of the Heroes Alliance family and chartering the Eastern Pennsylvania branch. Giving back to the community and to children in need is a beautiful experience. You are bringing happiness and hope to those who need it, simply by showing up in costume and spending a few moments with kids. Its a powerful thing.

G2A:  Apart from cosplaying.. is there anything else you do professionally?

Victoria: As I stated before, I have been hired and paid to do commercial modeling. I run my own birthday party business. My day jobs are working in Early Child Hood Education. I do not consider cosplay a profession. Its not a job. Its a hobby.

G2A: I read about your serious accident in 1999, how did you deal with recovery? What advice would you give to people who found themselves in similar situations?

Victoria:  My advice would be not to give up hope. Keep working hard and surround yourself with a strong support group. Dont be afraid to ask for help. Remember that not only do you need healing psychically but mentally and emotionally.

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New 52 Wonder Woman and Trinity Set

In November 2014 a group of cosplayers and photographers gathered at my home for a Man of Steel/Trinity photo shoot (which can be seen HERE). We had such a great time shooting and loved the photography so much that we decided to follow up with a New 52 theme. Check out the gallery  below!

Credits

Superman: Jason Evans

Batman: Kevin D Cosplay

Photographers

Photos and Designs by Piera

Hero Hotties

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Freedom Japanese Market Candy Product Review

Lets be honest; we all love candy! Recently, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try some sweets from The Land of The Rising Sun; Japan! Freedom Japanese Market is an online store where you can order Japanese products that are delivered right to your front door. Several options are available ranging from sweet to sour candy, DIY candy, gum, mints and even food and spices. Freedom Japanese Market offers a snack box subscription where one pound of an assortment of candy and snacks are delivered to your home for $25 a month. Shipping is free worldwide. There are no renewal or handling fees. You can even send a box as a gift! Subscriptions are handled through paypal. You can cancel your subscription anytime without a penalty fee. Lets take a look at the yummy treats I received from Japan!



My snack box included a very helpful list with photos and a description of all of the snacks and candy in the box (which was very helpful because the writing on the candy is in Japanese). The friendly letter also included an origami heart made by Sanae for Valentines Day. Below is a list of the candy I received along with a description and my thoughts on taste testing the products:

1. Dark Chocolate Kit-Kats: The classic Kit-Kats you love, coated in delicious layer of dark chocolate. My thoughts: I am actually not a very big fan of dark chocolate however, I found that the wafer combined with dark chocolate was very delicious. The wafer made the dark chocolate less over powering.

2. Kanpai Ramune: This mini mug is filled with ramune candies. My thoughts: This candy was very yummy and had a taste that very much reminded me of lemon iced tea.

3. Rilakkuma Petzles: Honey butter flavored pretzel sticks in very cute bear package. My thoughts: This was one of my favorites snacks in the box! The honey pretzels were sweet without being sugary.

4. Karamucho: Hot chili flavored potato chips; a favorite in many Japanese homes! My thoughts: These are the type of potato chips that you cant stop eating! The chili flavor was very satisfying without being salty like American potato chips. They were not oily or greasy. This was another personal favorite of mine.

5. Umaibo: This months flavors are pizza (green, white, and red) and onion salad (gold package). My thoughts: This was another snack that wasnt over powered with salt so you can really taste the flavor. It is best described as a very large cheese puff in terms of texture and shape.

6. Pokemon Karipori: A delicious tart, slightly fizzy candy with a grape or melon flavored candy coating. My thoughts: This candy is like pop rocks but in the form of sticks. This is something kids would definitely love!

7. Kaki no Mi: These savory rice crackers are a great little snack, and are really hard to put down. This product contains nuts. My thoughts: These thick crackers are very hearty and have a taste of sesame to them.

8. PukuPuku Tai: Similar to traditional Japanese Taiyaki, but with fluffy chocolate filling instead of sweet bean paste. Fortified with calcium! My thoughts: Another one of my personal favorites! This wafer had a creamy chocolate center that was mouth watering.

9. Hora Dekita DIY Candy: Making "candied apples" is as easy as following the directions on the package! My thoughts: This was hands down my favorite product! The miniature candy apples came with candy syrup for dipping and sprinkle candy. The candy apple was soft and the syrup wasnt overly sweet.

10. Maze Maze Drink: Mix and match candies to create your own flavors and tell us what you like best! My thoughts: Fun flavored candy very much like jelly beans.

Final thoughts: I discovered a very big difference between American candy and Japanese candy. American products seem to be packed with more salt and sugar thus masking the flavor whereas Japanese candy doesnt use the ingredients as much therefore, you get more of the flavor. On the occasions that I do eat candy, I tend not to eat too  much because it is too sweet and makes my teeth hurt. I didnt have that problem with any of the candy I taste tested. Everything was favorable yet light. It was very enjoyable tasting amazing candies and snacks from overseas. CLICK HERE  for information on ordering a subscription box!

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