5 Fandom Friday (5)

5 Fandom Friday is a geek-blogger community building project started and hosted by The Nerdy Girlie and SuperSpaceChick. Every Friday, post a top 5 list based on a predetermined topic that can be found on this master post - you can also find more info on the project there. Participate as frequently or infrequently as you like, and if a topic doesn't especially appeal to you, feel free to put your own twist on it.

Don't forget to link up on SuperSpaceChick's weekly post.

This week's theme: My Favorite Holiday Songs To Spread Cheer

I can't believe it's already December and Christmas will soon be upon us. Here are a few of my favorite, but it was super hard to pick since there are so many covers of classics, great new holiday/winter songs, and the Sister makes amazeballs Holiday Mixes. So I'm lucky enough to have access to the songs she's collected.

1) Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World
There have been many covers of this one, but my favorite version remains the one by Jimmy Eat World.

2) All I Want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
Nothing quite injects holiday cheer into the season like Mariah Carey's modern classic Christmas song. I also love the version from Love Actually.

2.5) All I Want for Christmas - Tristan Prettyman & Jason Mraz
I had to cheat because this title is quite close to Mariah's song title and I adore this sweet holiday duet (and Jason Mraz is one of my favorite singers).



3) Bring Me Love - Marié Digby
I wanted to include some new holiday originals on the list, and this one from Marie Digby is upbeat pop and so, so cute. (Below is her original acoustic performance. Check out the Single version too!)

4) Fairytale of New York - Pilate
One of my fast favorites from the first Holiday Mix the Sister made for me back in college. I love this song (particularly this cover by Pilate) for its catchy tune and its profane banter.

5) This Will be Our Year - OK Go
This is an older song from the Sister's holiday songs collection, but it continues to appear on her Holiday Mixes because it's optimistic, sweet, and a great song for the new year!




BONUS: My Only Wish (This Year) - Britney Spears
There were a few holiday gems back in early 2000s... like this Britney Spears number that I still get stuck in my head come December. So it's a bonus track for you here.

What are your favorite holiday jams?

What's Up Wednesday (53)

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, so we can check in with each other. To join, just check out Jaime Morrow or Erin Funk's blogs for the link widget and sign up!

(Random, but this image is probably my favorite of the ones Jaime has made & it's raining in SoCal now, so I feel like it's finally winter-y enough to use it!)


WHAT I'M READING
The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey. This is book 2 of The 5th Wave, which I loved. Yancey knows how to end chapters with a punch.


WHAT I'M WRITING
I'm tinkering away at a short story actually. I really need to get back into poetry mode though.


WHAT WORKS FOR ME
Being stressed out AND having time off. Had lot of ideas in the build-up to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend while I was sleep-deprived and stressing about work stuff. But yay for figuring out plot things?


WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO
As I've mentioned in a few other posts, I participated in the geek fashion blog Set To Stunning's month-long fashion challenge to try to put a little geek into my every day outfits. They dubbed the challenge Nerdvember!

If you follow me on Instagram (akangaru) (or even Twitter: kangaru) at all, I've been posting a geeky outfit a day and to my surprise, I made it through all 30 days of November!! So here's a recap of my 30 outfits!

Here are a few more favorites.


Thanksgiving was also last weekend, which meant lots of eating and a lot of shopping. I know people have mixed feelings about Black Friday (and I am not a fan of stores opening on Thursday night), but it can be nice to get all my holiday shopping done in one go...and for it to be maybe nicer stuff than I'd normally be able to get. Also, the Sister and I don't do the electronics thing (which is where things get crazy) and we go like at the crack of dawn, so there's barely anyone.

In any case, yes, I am like 100% done with all my holiday gift-shopping! (This doesn't include any Secret Santa stuff that might come up.) Go me!

And to be absolutely honest, I treated myself to a few items I've long been eyeing like a few Blackmilk pieces (they only do 1 sale a year, and that's the Cyber Monday sale), some other geeky clothes (including the Thorin-inspired chainmail dress above), and THIS Kate Spade glasses bangle that I've been wanting forever.

The other big thing of the weekend was THE NEW STAR WARS TEASER TRAILER OMG-I-AM-SO-EXCITED-SOMEONE-PINCH-ME!!! Obviously, there were a lot of concerns and reservations and general wariness surrounding everything with the new installment (it's best to be cautiously optimistic), but AH, THE TEASER GAVE ME ALL THE FEELS.

The Sister and I were up really early Friday morning to go shopping, and we had just parked in a semi-empty parking lot when she said, "I think the Star Wars trailer goes live like now." And then I started seeing screencaps in my Twitter stream, and then she found a link. We watched it on the phone in the car, which was a good thing because we spent the entire 88 seconds going OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, AHHH!!! and generally flailing. The part that owned us? The iconic John Williams Star Wars theme kicking in as we saw the Millennium Falcon face off against TIE Fighters.

Basically, the Sis and I were that dude in the bottom right corner. I need this movie now. TIME TURNER, I NEED IT. Clearly, I'm still not over it and pretty much won't be until December 2015. (That's also why I had 2 days of Star Wars-themed Nerdvember outfits at the end of the month).

We then finished off the weekend by watching The Walking Dead mid-season finale (which was a feels-puncher), and the British sci-fi movie ATTACK THE BLOCK, starring John Boyega - who is one of the new leads in the new Star Wars (the guy in the stormtrooper suit in the first shot). The movie is excellent! Inner-city kids take on an alien invasion. It's ridiculous, clever, energetic, and so, so funny. I can't wait to see more of John Boyega.

What's up with you?

What's Up Wednesday (52)

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, so we can check in with each other. To join, just check out Jaime Morrow or Erin Funk's blogs for the link widget and sign up!


WHAT I'M READING
Blue Lily, Lily Blue and I don't want it to eeeeend! I'm also finishing up Steal like an Artist.


WHAT I'M WRITING
Dabbling in some poetry, trying to get back to the verse story.


WHAT WORKS FOR ME
Messing around with other creative pursuits. Nerdvember has really allowed me to stretch my fashion sense (what little I have), and it's been really fun actually trying to *style* geeky tees and accessories. Some days are more successful than others, but still!


WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO

There were a bunch of November birthdays this past weekend, so I ate a lot of sweets. I've also started hoarding holiday gifts. Best to get the holiday shopping done when you can. Speaking of, I ordered a mug for my Sip Swap person yesterday. Hope they like it! And to you non-US peeps, you should totally organize a Sip Swap of your own. It's so fun and goodness knows you can never have too many cups! (Actually, you can. I have too many, but I love buying them!)

For later this week? I'm seeing BASTILLE (yay!) on Thursday and hopefully MOCKINGJAY PART 1 sometime this weekend. How is it already time for the Hunger Games again? How?!

I'm halfway through Nerdvember now! I'm pretty proud of myself. I've managed to come up with something geeky to wear every single day of November so far - and it's not just socks and T-Shirts! Here's hoping I can keep it up. I'll post all my outfits at the end of the month, but here's a few of my faves so far.


And I'm still participating on and off with The Nerdy Girlie and SuperSpaceChick's 5 Fandom Fridays if you're looking for something to read then or something to blog!

What's up with you?

5 Fandom Friday (4)

5 Fandom Friday is a geek-blogger community building project started and hosted by The Nerdy Girlie and SuperSpaceChick. Every Friday, post a top 5 list based on a predetermined topic that can be found on this master post - you can also find more info on the project there. Participate as frequently or infrequently as you like, and if a topic doesn't especially appeal to you, feel free to put your own twist on it.


This week's theme: Smart Phone Apps I Cannot Live Without


1. Twitter / Hootsuite

This was my first choice because it's where I spend a lot of my online time. It's where I chat with my friends, post updates, and get my news. I've also met so many fun people thanks to Twitter. Some of the best conversations happen on Twitter.

I actually use the actual Twitter app a lot now because my Hootsuite was glitchy for a while - but while I used Hootsuite, it was great because it helped organize timelines and you could schedule tweets.


2. Instagram

I love taking photos and seeing people's photos. So Instagram had to be on this list. Love that it's personal, artsy, and social. I'm currently participating in Set To Stunning's Nerdvember challenge, so that's what's filling up my feed recently.

A Doctor Who Rose Tyler-inspired outfit.

A Star Wars Han Solo-inspired outfit.

3. Vscocam
Better for photo-editing than Instagram is, especially if all you want to do is touch a photo up a little. Plus, it has way more choices when it comes to filters.


4. Google Maps
I'm not sure if this counted, but basically this is a life-saver while traveling in an unfamiliar place. Navigating new cities or just getting to a new local restaurant is a lot less stressful when you can just look it up.


5. Podcasts
I only recently got into listening to podcasts - partly because I was participated in one (a review of the 13th Doctor's first episode), mostly because a friend started a great one about writers (First Draft with Sarah Enni).

But now my Podcasts app is ESSENTIAL because I am desperately hooked by SERIAL, a podcast investigating a true crime and unfolding the story each week. I admit, I'm a sucker for crime dramas on TV, so this was totally up my alley. If you haven't listened to this or even heard about it, I highly recommend you check it out. So addictive. There's only been 8 episodes so far.


What are the phone apps you can't live without?

What's Up Wednesday (51)

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, so we can check in with each other. To join, just check out Jaime Morrow or Erin Funk's blogs for the link widget and sign up!


WHAT I'M READING
Haven't had much time to read since work has been busy and I think I'm either getting sick or having a really bad allergy attack. Augh. So, this means I'm still reading BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE.

But it's okay too because the book is great and I dread having to wait for the next book. That said, I do have to mention that my pre-ordered, signed copy has still not arrived! This is mostly thanks to a freak postal service accident involving the books that has the indie bookstore in Virginia scrambling to catch-up. I found out today that another freak postal mistake had my order delivered somewhere else! The store is fixing the issue, but that is the status of the order.


WHAT I'M WRITING
Still nothing. I'm the worst! :(


WHAT WORKS FOR ME
Trying not to stress too much? Get more sleep? Being healthy!


WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO

I finally caught Jessica Love and Kelsey Macke's annual Sip Swap exchange! I miss this mug-based Secret Santa every year, so I'm glad I caught sign-ups this time. Unfortunately, it's limited to the continental US and sign-ups are already closed, but keep an eye out for it next year if you're interested!

Also, Nerdvember is going strong! It's been fun thinking of how to incorporate geek into my daily wardrobe.


What's up with you?

5 Fandom Friday (3)

5 Fandom Friday is a geek-blogger community building project started and hosted by The Nerdy Girlie and SuperSpaceChick. Every Friday, post a top 5 list based on a predetermined topic that can be found on this master post - you can also find more info on the project there. Participate as frequently or infrequently as you like, and if a topic doesn't especially appeal to you, feel free to put your own twist on it.

I've missed a few because I was on vacation, but I'm back and this week's theme is great because I love food! :D

This week's theme: Comfort Foods That Always Make Me Feel Better

1. IN-N-OUT


I'm a California native, so when it comes to classic "American" food and fast food, nothing says home like In-n-Out. It's cheap, simple, and delicious. I love getting it when I come back from a trip; it's my go-to homecoming treat.


2. Red bean, Riceball/Mochi, Sesame-stuffed Riceball (dessert) Soup

Not sure what the actual name of this is, but it's my favorite cold-weather Taiwanese dessert. My mom makes it every year, and the sesame-filled rice balls are to-die-for good.


3. Phở

Speaking of soupy foods, you can't beat phở for tasty comfort. Feeling cold? Under the weather? Nursing a hangover? You need some of this brothy deliciousness!


4. Minced Pork over Rice

This is a simple, traditional Taiwanese dish. I love a lot of Taiwanese/Chinese food, but I never get sick of this one. Om nom nom.


5. Ice Cream

I think this is self-explanatory. And anyone who knows me knows I am an ice cream monster.


Honorary Mention: I had to mention coffee and tea here because somethings a warm cuppa is all you need to brighten your day (and I love both!)



What are your top comfort foods?

What's Up Wednesday (50)

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, so we can check in with each other. To join, just check out Jaime Morrow or Erin Funk's blogs for the link widget and sign up!


WHAT I'M READING
Still making my way through BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE. I'm also reading STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST. Very inspirational.

WHAT I'M WRITING
A few lines here and there. I hope to really get back into it this month with the help of NaNoWriMo energy (though I'm not participating this year). By the way, good luck NaNo-ers!


WHAT WORKS FOR ME
Reading wonderful writing! On the one hand, reading great writing can be depressing because how will I ever even come close to that, but it's also so inspiring. It makes me want to spin my own tales.


WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO
Mostly recovering from Italy. I do think sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation, haha. I wasn't really jet-lagged but I have a lot of work to get caught up on and Daylight Savings didn't do me any favors.

The other thing that happened is Halloween! Since I missed most of October in the US, it hasn't really felt like Halloween for me, and when I got back, I only had a week to figure out what to do. Luckily, I had my casual cosplay Wonder Woman outfit from Comic Con this year! So I spruced it up a little and that was the DIY costume I wore to work!

My co-workers had some great ones - my favorite was a woman dressed as the painting of the Mona Lisa. It was a frame with the painting, but the Mona Lisa's face was cut out so you could stick your own face there. So funny.

The Sister had some fun at Target, trying on foam wigs and beards, but as usual, she matched her costume to Loki's.

Pirate, lobster, or Flame-Hair

Loki was a lion this year (he's the perfect color for it), and the Sister was the ring leader/ lion tamer!

Can you spot the Loki Lion King?

Lastly, the Sis and I are participating in Set to Stunning's Nerdvember challenge this month. So if you follow either of us on Instagram, I apologize in advance for the geeky outfit selfies you'll be seeing all month. I'll share some looks as the month goes.

Oh and pre-registration for Comic Con 2015 is happening this weekend! Eeeep! Wish us luck!!


What's up with you?