So its been a really stressful time since after Main Animania...and this is my second time trying to write this post with the first one being deleted....so hopefully i remember everything i wanted to write...

Main Animania - Driving for the first time from Melbourne to Sydney (in one sitting!!!) was first off, crazy scary hell!!! >< >< >< but fun at the same time ^_^ The acutally at the con, meeting all of our friends from interstate and ofcourse the other finalists in WCS...it was such a crazy weekend!

I'm putting the same pic of us during our skit as Aly as i am a noob at this DA things, and to save my mental health, i am copying and pasting....

Go to photolink: taken by Stacey Lang[link]

It was such an amazing feeling being on stage doing the skit which Aly and I poured our everything into...and people connected with it. Our friends, old and new alike, strangers...parents of other cosplayers...they all seems to be touched by what we showed in our skit, and ppl appriciated that we dared to be different. Thankyou to everyone who commented. Our skit is currently online on youtube thanks to the wonderful Christie.

Youtube vid of our "Team S.M.E.X" WCS finals skit: [link]

I must also say here a speical thankyou to people who have just been diamonds in helping us in our times of stress -
Luka & Hope: who put up with all of our sprawl into the lounge room, made sure we were fed, and had alcohol when we needed. AND WHO CARED FOR OUR BABY ARTEMIS!!!!
Siera...and your fighting muffins...YOU TOTALLY SAVED US...WE ARE THE IVY-LEAUGE!~!!!!!!
Minh...thankyou so much for your late-night/early morning efforts...WHICH SAVED OUR ASSES!!!


After the blood,sweat,tears,money...and being with the amazing compeition who i was proud to be standing on the same stage with... we came second in the comp. From what we were all told, it was an intense equal point score and a fight-to-the-death between the judges over the final results. Team GoWuGo came first with their amazing costumes of armour and wings! And I want to say this in regards to comments and words being talked about by ppl - there is no hostility towards the judges or the winner from us...Aly and I are behind Team Australia...and will support them. They represetent us...all of us , and we should get behind them and be proud that such amazing cosplayers will be giving it their all in Japan next year on behalf of everyone. People have a right to voice their opinion but despite what ever is said, Aly and I wish only the best for Team Australia! The judges made their decision...and this is something which should be respected and not blamed or slandered. We have been assured that the issues which happened this year will not be ignored, and WCS Australia/WCS International can only learn, improve and grow from here.
I've been doing this crazy thing called cosplay for almost 10 years now, and since the first day i started until now, i believe in people creating, challenging, meeting ppl and having fun being the characters they love and bring them to life - which is why I believe in what WCS stands for, and still love it for how it brings the International Cosplay community together.

So onto the shoutouts:
Go Wu Go
and
Congradulations. Your costumes were amazing, and i can't wait to see what you guys bring out for the finals. Mel, your smexy ass is all the way in Brisbane..but Asham..YOU CAN NOT RUN FAR FROM ALY OR I!!! Please ask us or come to us...we are here in Melbourne! *we have warned you...lol*

Another World Breathing
and
I'm so glad i got to spend so much time with you smexy girls. I can't wait to do epic Pandora Hearts group and oh...the incest brotherly love...oh the fanart...oh the poses...

Haraju2girls

You girls are always in my heart!!! The experience which was Main Animania would not have been the same without you! NEXT YEAR...2010...AICON, KITCHEN OF SMEX~~~~!!!!!! (we have to think of one for Waicon if we are all going there too! <3 ) YOU DELICIOUS SAND-SMEX-A-LICIOUS-WICH

Bubblegum Crusade
and
Another group close to my heart, you two were so muhc crack fun, and was a great time hanging out! i can't wait to see what cosplays you pull out in the future. SANDWICH OF SMEXXXX!!!

Alice Troopers
and
I was so glad that we got to finally meet you! i would luv to get to know you guys more & see you more at conventions...THERE MUST BE MORE EXPOSURE AND LUV BETWEEN ALL THE DIFFERENT STATES OF COSPLAY!!!

and to Contramundi
Aly and i can completly understand the situation you guys were in this year, and we are so happy to know that you guys will be coming back next year. I can't wait to see what you bring to the comp!!!!

Last by not least...my wonderful who i love so much! This journey would not have existed without you...heck, we probably wouldn't have existed without WCS!!!! So this compeition has meant more to me than just my passion for Cosplay. I feel so blessed that you are with me, and i can say that i had my most perfect Sakura next to me on stage, and that i'd search to the ends of the world to find your feathers if you ever lost them. Thankyou for the past few years...AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR EPIC FUTURE!!!

After coming back from Sydney, Team S.M.E.X (Aly & I) will continue to progress, challenge ourselves, reach to our best and then reach further within ourselves to go further than we have ever before!!!! And to aid in this....I have traded my beloved sewing machine "Squall" after years of faithful service. I am now the proud owner of an overlocker!!!!!! I am exicted about improving my sewing skills and producing things id never imagine i'd make!!!!
As for his name, i was considering Leon, what with the whole KH Squall/Leon lol-tastic ness...but when i saw written on the box "My Lock"...only one name came to mind:

LOCKON

Now, I just have to get used to using him *will study the DVD carefully!!!!!!* K must now power up!!!!!


so on the home front - on a serious note. About 1 week before me and Aly left for WCS, i found out that my mum had to go in for major surgery in mid-september. Now that WCS is over and i cant use it to distract my mind...My mum has to go in for major surgery next week, and to be honest, its quite scary. Because of circumstances, i'll be taking care of my Mum for a couple of weeks...meaning I will be away from Aly for the longest time since being with her...and away from my little baby-kitty Artemis...>_<

I'm not the type to even talk about this, but i know this will be a tough time for my mum, and i must be strong...but i'll probalby feel left out from everything, and feeling very down. So, if you have a spare throught or some time, pls send a msg...or i dont know - random pokes or pictures mails...its all new for me...all i can do is support my mother. But i treasure all my friends and you really do give me support and keep me thinking positive!

Because of the sudden news of this just 2 weeks ago, our cosplay plans are needing re-shifting a bit...but cosplay will be happening <3 Keeping life positive includes keeping cosplay alive within myself.

to you all, keep dreaming and living the passion which is your own path! Stay positive and you will see it will effect not only your own life, but the life of thoes around you!