Lolita Gift Swap meet 2013

On the 13th of January 2013 I attended the annual gift swap meet in Bilthoven, Utrecht. It was my first time this year. I had heard from people that attended in recent years that it was a lot of fun. Having seen pictures  I decided to go because it indeed looked like a lot of fun.

I doubted to go at first because it was organised by a girl that didn't like me and I thought that she may not have liked me coming.

A lot of my friends where attending there this year too so I took the chance and went any way.

You could compare the gift swap meet to a secret Santa event. Everyone received a random name of someone they had to give a gift to. With the name came a list of things this person likes and their hobbies. I remember having a lot of fun filling out my list and I wondered who had picked me.

I picked a girl named Juliette. She had a very interesting list. I brain-stormed for some time while browsing shops and internet shops. I wasn't really sure what to give her. I was quite late getting to it actually and ordered one week before the actual day. Luckily I chose a seller in the same country so that saved time and shipping fees.
I ordered from Lockshopwigs.com. It was the first time I ordered from there and was very surprised on how many lovely items they have. I decided on two lovely bat clips in pink and black. I thought I’d get one for myself too because they were so cute. It arrived in no time. About two days before the event I started constructing a jewelry box. I decided to give something home made as it’s a nice touch I always think. I spent quite a few hours sticking on the fabric, lace and decoration but it was worth every effort. A week before I also bought some more little things to go along with the bat clip. I bought a glow lamp bunny (whom I gave a cute bow tie), a cute bow hair clip, two cupcake magnets, a Lilo and Stitch purse bag and a Japanese style coin purse. The cute thing about the purse was that the zipper was its mouth. I just couldn't resist buying it ^^.

Cutness!

 When the day came I made sure to get up nice and early to get ready. Sadly it wasn't enough time, as expected. I woke up not feeling too well and was thrown out of my routine. So I ended up going back to bed for a little while. After a while I did start to feel a bit better and decided to wash and eat some breakfast, which went well enough. I still had half an hour before the bus to arrive so I quickly did my make-up and got dressed. I didn't need to worry about my hair as I curled my hair up the night before. I ended up having really cute curls on the meeting day.

I made it just in time for the bus, luckily. I made sure to take the gift before I forgot on the way out.

I met up with my friends Rowan and Dieuwke at the station so that we could travel together. It is very convenient and fun to have many other Lolita’s living in the same town as me.

On the way to Utrecht I bought a croissant as my appetite started to come back. It was a very tasty croissant by the way ;-)

Dieuwke, Rowan and me!

When we arrived at Utrecht we met up with all the other Lolita’s that had gathered at the station. I was funny to see people staring at us or asking what it was all about. I have to admit sometimes it can get a bit annoying when people ask. Especially when you’re in the middle of a conversation and they just interrupt.

I have to say that it was very cold that day. I was shivering the whole time and I wished that I had bought a hat. I really didn't think about it on the way out because I was in such a rush. Luckily I did take my scarf otherwise I would have died of frostbite =P.

Then it was time to take the bus to the community hall where the meet was going to take place. It was a fun ride but I started to feel very ill. I had made sure to keep healthy all week and on the actual day I got sick. But I didn't let this take me down.

After a short walk to the community hall we were welcomed by warmth and a cutely decorated room. It had a big table in the middle surrounded by a lot of chairs. It reminded me of a congress room only this one looked cuter because of the flower stickers all over the walls.

Me, Rowan and Dieuwke took a place right at the end of the table as half of it was already occupied.

As soon as I sat I was confronted by the hostess Danchelle who smiled at me and handed me a little gift. She let me know that it had nothing to do with the swap meet and before I could answer she was already heading to her seat. She had handed me a lovely card and a little bear key chain. The bear was really cute because it wore a bonnet and a pink dress. I turned the card around and read that she was glad that we could start over again. I looked up at her and smiled and she smiled back. It was such a lovely gift from her. I nearly wanted to cry because it was so sudden but I was glad that we were back on the same level with one another. It was already a perfect start of the meet.

I wore my new lavender princess OP (I love lavender). I loved my outfit so much. It was elegant and comfortable at the same time.

We had to wait a while for the rest of the group to arrive so I decided to some tea while I waited. A little while later they finally arrived and we could begin with the gift unwrapping.
It was a lot of fun to see everyone receive their gift. Everyone put so much effort and creativity into their gifts. One for one everyone received their gifts until it was finally my turn. I received my gift from my lovely friend Anne. She’s such a darling and we get along so well. She gave me a big package. It was cutely decorated and had a cute bunny sticker. I opened my package and beheld quite a few gifts. She wrote me a card, which I read aloud. She wrote that he had much fun choosing presents for me and that she hopes that I enjoy them. She kept to a strawberry and bunny theme, as she took inspiration to my wishlist favorite Cherry Berry Bunny.

I received a cute pair of knee socks in pink with strawberries on them. I've been wanting them for ages but never got around to buying them and now I finally had them. I've already got a cute outfit in mind. I also received a heart shaped mirror. It was such a lovely touch. I also really needed a mirror for my room. I received lovely paper themes for cards or frames. There are kitties and flower gardens on it. I will definitely put them into frames and hang them up. They look so vintage and remind me of Beatrix Potter’s illustrations, you know the ones about Peter rabbit?

Next I received a usage bunny head coin purse. This was the cutest item of the whole package. It was so small and adorable. I received a phone strap with Hello Kitty wearing a bonnet too^^. The wrapper it was in had a cute ladybug on it which I decided to keep. They bring luck you know and you never know when you’ll need it.

My gift from Anne!

Then it was my turn to give my present to Juliette. I was a little worried that she might have thought it was too cute. She happened to be the only one not dressed in Lolita. Regardless of looked she loved my gift. It was a lot of fun to see her unpack it. Damien made a good picture of me handing it to her too^^

Credits go to Damien7002 for taking this photo. Link can be found here

When everyone received the gifts we got up to take pictures and chat. We made group pictures of all the different styles and one big group picture. Some people were making funny pictures together too.  It was hilarious to watch.

All the sweet Lolita's.

Everyone!

After the meet a group of people were going to go out to dinner at this Chinese place not far from the hall but I didn't go because I felt too unwell but hoped to join next time. I wished them a lot of fun and made my way back home with Rowan and Dieuwke. We left with a group to the station. It was still really cold outside so we decided to go to Starbucks and have a hot chocolate. I’m really not a fan and I've never had coffee there either (coffee is yucky :p) but I really loved their hot chocolate with hazelnut syrup. Rowan had the hot Chocó with caramel and Dieuwke had the standard one. Mine tasted like liquid Nutella: P. Yum Yum.

Rowan and Dieuwke thought it was funny to change their names for the Starbucks staff ^-^

I was glad when I was finally home. I spent the next few days in bed though because I had the Influenza flu. L But it was still a wonderful day and I cannot wait until next year.
Thanks for reading and take care!