Tokyo Gacha World Review

5 / 9 / 175 / 9 / 17

These days, you can buy almost anything from Japan your heart desires online, but there’s one kind of item that’s always been particularly hard to find: Gachapon! Because gachapon toys are generally only sold through machines that spit out a random capsule toy, living outside of Japan means you miss out of the surprise of putting a few hundred yen into a machine, turning the knob, and waiting with baited breath to see what comes out… But with Tokyo Gacha World, a subscription box dedicated to gachapon, you can experience the delight of receiving random gachapon every month!

Chic Pixel Plus Episode 54 – Reading Too Much (Into It)

4 / 25 / 17

In another overdue episode of Chic Pixel Plus (which should no longer be an issue after Anne submits her thesis in July, promise!), we talk about whether or not we read too much into the media we consume, and Anne gets a little heated up about Twitter Discourse™. Sarah talks about what it was like to make a point and click adventure game for Resist Jam, Anne shares some early NieR: Automata impressions, and Granblue Fantasy comes up once again. Don’t miss Sarah’s impressions of the Kingdom Hearts concert in Tokyo at the end!

00:01:58 Resist Jam (Sarah and Roy’s game Rootless)

00:10:38 Kawasaki Kenko on Takarazuka Revue during the US occupation (audio)

00:14:09 Free! movies announced

00:18:46 Talking about games on the internet

00:35:28 NieR: Automata early impressions

00:40:21 Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

00:48:44 Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid

00:58:29 Granblue Fantasy Corner

01:07:11 Kingdom Hearts concert

Opening ♫ – “stay gold” – Utada Hikaru
Closing ♫ – “Dearly Beloved (Kingdom Hearts II version)” – Yoko Shimomura

[DOWNLOAD] [ITUNES] [RSS]

How I Edit Instagram Photos and Nerdy Flatlays

3 / 21 / 17

Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how I edit my Instagram photos and compose pictures for #nerdyflatlay, so I thought it would be a good idea to do a post to explain my process! I’m definitely not a professional photographer, but I have learned some things about lighting, composition, and editing that I take into account when prepping photos for Instagram, and I’m happy to share my tips with you.

If you find this post helpful, please consider buying me a coffee through my new Ko-fi account! It’s a great way to give back if you enjoy my writing since I don’t get paid just to post cute pictures (I wish!). But for now, let me break down exactly how I go about taking photos and nerdy flatlays for Instagram!

Yuri!!! on Ice Animate Café Blind Box Unboxing (with Giveaway!)

3 / 20 / 17

Last month I splurged on some Animate Café exclusive Yuri!!! on Ice acrylic stand keychains, so I had to show them off! Believe it or not, this is my first time buying Yuri!!! on Ice merchandise… Check out my unboxing video to see which characters I got! It also includes details on a giveaway to win one of the Chris Giacometti birthday art cards I received!

It’s too bad I didn’t get one of my favorite characters (Yurio, Phichit, or Minami), but honestly the designs are so cute I don’t even mind that I got emo boy Georgi. Remember, if you’d like to get in for a chance to win the art card, be sure to leave a comment on the video with your favorite Yuri!!! on Ice character!

Chic Pixel’s Ultimate Guide to Blogging Part 4: Money Matters

2 / 28 / 173 / 15 / 17

Welcome to the final installment of Chic Pixel’s Ultimate Guide to Blogging! In the first week, I gave tips on how to start a blog and narrow your blog’s focus to fit into a niche that’s perfect for you. The second week was full of specific post ideas, and how to keep going when the going gets tough. Then, in week three, I shared my favorite social media strategies and tips for cultivating an audience who will keep coming back to your blog.

For my final post, I’ll be tackling a somewhat touchy subject: making money off blogging. Can you earn a living off your blog? When, if ever, should you start trying? How can you ask for money without seeming tacky? I’ll be covering everything from affiliates, Patreon, ad revenue, and selling your own products. Plus, I’ve teamed up with Lauren Orsini from Otaku Journalist to give away a copy of her Affiliate Linking for $$$ Guide! Read on for details!

Chic Pixel’s Ultimate Guide to Blogging Part 3: Growing Your Audience

2 / 21 / 17

If you’ve been following my Ultimate Guide to Blogging series, by now you may have set up your blog, published a couple of posts, or thought of ways to spice up your existing blog. You might even be breathing a sigh of relief, thinking your hard work is done… But no! The hard work is only just beginning! No matter how great your blog is, it won’t be much fun (or make you any money, etc., depending on what your blogging goals are) if no one reads it, right?

That’s why, in Part 3 of Chic Pixel’s Ultimate Guide to Blogging, I’ll be sharing my tips on how to gain new readers, navigating the thorny underbrush that is social media, and cultivate an audience for your particular niche. This part is likely the most intimidating because it means really putting yourself out there, but don’t worry! I’ve included actionable steps for you to take to get the word out about your awesome blog, whether you’re just starting or have been writing for years.