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Blog, Fun Food

3D Print Pancakes with PancakeBot

PancakeBot

 

I’ve been waiting for the day when 3D printers would become a bit more delicious, and that day is here. This PancakeBot uses 3D printing technology to pour pancake batter directly on a griddle, making pancakes in the shape of anything you wish.

The PancakeBot will retail for $299 but can be purchased from their Kickstarter campaign for $179. Not a bad price to pay for the best breakfast (and lunch, and dinner, and snacks, and desserts…) ever.

I’m guessing the printer can be used for more than just pancake batter. I’d be interested in using melted chocolate with the griddle turned off to make fun chocolate shapes.

Will you be purchasing a PancakeBot? And if so, can I come over for breakfast?

(Hat tip to Steven for sending the link my way!)

Blog, News

Seattle Web Fest is this Saturday!

Seattle Web Fest Logo

Job Hunters, the web series I produced, was selected to be a part of the inaugural Seattle Web Fest, and I’m thrilled! I can’t wait to see it on the big screen, and you can too, for free! This Saturday, join me at Seattle Web Fest for screenings, panels, hugs, and shmoozing from 10am-8pm. Whether you’re a web series creator, a web series fan, or are just bored in Seattle and want to see some free entertainment, there’s something for you.

I’m still working out my schedule, but you’ll definitely see me at the screening block from 4pm-5pm (that’s when Job Hunters will run) and at the “Marketing Your Web Series” panel at 6pm (I’ll be moderating!). You can see the full schedule at seattlewebfest.com.

Will I see you there?

Blog, Events

UW Geek Week is Upon Us!

Jonathan-Coulton_web[5]

The University of Washington, my alma mater, is hosting an incredibly fun “Geek Week” this week. Although most events are for students only, the end of the week concert is open to all. Jonathan Coulton will be headlining the show, with the always lovely Doubleclicks and Fighter X. Tickets are $25. I’ll be there–will I see you?

UW’s continuing the geeky activities this spring when Neil Gaiman comes on Friday, April 17th. Tickets are $35 and are going to sell out–get yours asap!

I’m loving that UW is embracing the geek community, and I can’t wait to attend these events. I hope to see you there!

Blog, Recipes

Girl Scout Samoa Icebox Cake

Samoa Icebox Cake

It’s that time of year again. Time for angels to descend down to earth and give us ambrosia from the heavens girls to sell Girl Scout Cookies. And, as is tradition, I’m participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Contest. We take Girl Scout cookies and attempt to not eat them all straight from the box, and instead use them as ingredients in recipes.

This year is the Samoa’s 40th birthday, so we’re all celebrating by making recipes for this cookie. I chose to make an icebox cake: it turns these cookies into a sweet, messy, delicious dessert. And it’s easy! Read More

Blog, News

Geeky Hostess Store Sale!

GHEspionage

Make way for sprinkles! To get ready for sprinkles and the new Geeky Hostess store that comes with it, I’ve put many of the current Geeky Hostess items on sale! Find t-shirts, tote bags, underwear, and even an Espionage Makeup Collection for up to 30% off! Check it out and help me clear the way for some exciting new items!

Blog, Dungeons and Dragons, Recipes, Video Games

Fireball Cupcakes

Fireball Cupcake

Like Fireball whiskey? Atomic Fireball candy? Dungeons and Dragons? Mario? An excuse to make cupcakes? Then these are for you.

Warning: They’re potent. They’re boozy and they’ve got a spicy cinnamon kick. You’re gonna love them.

Fireball Cupcakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 box spice cake mix
  • Ingredients needs for box spice cake mix, minus the water (mine needed 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 3 eggs)
  • 1 cup + 1 TBS Fireball (or another spicy cinnamon flavored whiskey)
  • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • dash salt
  • red and yellow food coloring (optional)
  • cinnamon candies (optional)

Directions:

Prepare the spice cake mix as is directed on the back of the box, but instead of water, use Fireball. (My cake mix called for 1 cup of water, so I put in 1 cup of Fireball instead.) Fill cupcake tins about 2/3 of the way with the batter, and bake as directed on the back of the box.

Remove cupcakes from the oven once a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer cupcakes to wire racks.

While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting. Mix the butter in a mixer until fully smooth, then slowly add the powdered sugar in, one cup at a time, until it is all mixed. Add a TBS of Fireball, and the vanilla and salt. Mix for about 5 minutes or until the frosting has a beautiful, whipped consistency.

Fireball Cupcake Frosting
Want to make the fire frosting you see above? Divide the frosting up in 3 bowls. Set aside one. In one bowl, place yellow food coloring, and in the other, red food coloring. (I use AmeriColor gel food coloring.) Mix the frostings with the food coloring until the color you’d like is reached. Place each color side by side in a pastry bag. (It’s ok if they end up getting a bit mixed up, it makes a more realistic fire color!) Pipe onto the cooled cupcakes and top with a cinnamon candy. Enjoy!

 

Blog, Geek Fit

Geeky Workouts For Every Fandom

mockingjay-workout

When you want to work out just like your favorite character, Neila Rey has your back. They’ve created hundreds of visual workouts based on kick-ass characters from movies, tv shows, and video games. You can punch like Starbuck, get abs like Batman, or even button-mash fight like someone from Street Fighter. The workouts all have great flavor text to get you motivated, as well as tips on how to perform the exercises, ways to level up the workout, and some even have suggested soundtracks. Love the images and want to frame them and do them often? The workouts also link you to a high resolution .pdf poster.

Neilarey.com also has workouts for every day life. I love this Movie Night workout, which gives you exercises to do while on the couch. Check out all of the workouts here. I guarantee you’ll find one you love! (And once you do, give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments!)

Blog, Geek Lifestyle

The Cones of Dunshire Is Going To Be An Actual Game You Can Play


If you’re a Parks and Rec fan and a lover of board games, your day has come. Ben Wyatt’s “gaming experience,” The Cones of Dunshire, is currently on Kickstarter to be made into a pricey Deluxe version. While the Kickstarter cheekily looks as if it’s from the accounting firm Ben worked at, it’s actually by Mayfair games, who created the game for Parks and Recreation.

The Kickstarter will stay up throughout the run of the last season of Parks and Rec, and hints at the fact that we’ll see The Cones of Dunshire on the show again. By pledging, you can get some Cones of Dunshire-branded swag, tickets to GenCon to see a jumbo-size charity game of The Cones of Dunshire played, or for $500+, you can get your own deluxe version to play whenever you’d like. Mayfair claims they have no plans to make an affordable commercial version: instead they want to appeal to super fans of the show and game that will be wiling to spend the money for an exclusive item. It will only be available through this Kickstarter. Which brings me to the question: Who do I know that will be purchasing a copy? I’d be happy to provide snacks if I can play. I call Ledgerman.

Check it out at Kickstarter.com.

Blog, Events, Geek Lifestyle

Puzzled Pint (Or: Where You’ll Be Each Month)

Puzzled Pint

 

On Tuesday, Mr. Geek and I ventured out to our very first Puzzled Pint: a monthly activity held in multiple cities where you gather and solve puzzles at bars. Obviously, it was ridiculously fun.

The first Tuesday of each month, puzzle-lovers gather at a bar and are given puzzles to work on in their own groups. Everyone has the same set of puzzles, and your solving times are posted in the “standings” section of the site, but overall it’s a “work at your own pace and have fun” kind of experience. To find out where Puzzled Pint will be, you must solve a puzzle on PuzzledPint.com, which is placed up the Friday before each event. The puzzle sets you up for the theme of the night–this month’s was X-Men.

The puzzles were extremely well-crafted and difficult for the two of us to do ourselves. We completed the puzzles, but had to ask for a couple hints. Next month, we’re definitely bringing more people!

Puzzled Pint is currently in the following cities:

  • Austin, Texas
  • Bay Area, California
  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • London, England (UK)
  • Montreal, Quebec (Canada)
  • Phoenix, Arizona
  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Portland, Oregon
  • Seattle, Washington (two locations: City and Eastside)
  • Washington, DC

If you enjoy solving puzzles, hanging out with friends, and exploring bars in your city, then you’ll LOVE Puzzled Pint. Check it out here and mark your calendar for next month! Will I see you there?

A Geeky Home, Blog, Ghostbusters, Harry Potter, Lifestyle

Harry Potter vs. Ghostbusters: Help Me Pick My New Decor

Happy January! I’ve been a bit MIA for two reasons: I wanted to spend as much time with family as I could over the holidays, and I moved! I’m still in the same city, but am now in a super cute townhouse close to a bunch of my friends. Moving has been quite the process over the last week or so, but now I’m in the unpacking, reorganizing, and decorating stage, which is the most fun ever. (Mr. Geek may disagree.) This brings me to today’s post: I need your help.

See, we have this cute little bathroom on our main floor. It’s right next to the living room and kitchen, which means it will see the most traffic from guests. The bathroom has a black marble countertop and yellow walls. I instantly had an idea of how I would decorate it: I would keep it simple with black accessories (hand towel, soap dispenser, trash can, etc.) and put up a nice print of a badger on the wall above the toilet. To non-geeks, the bathroom will just look “nice,” and the rest of us will instantly recognize it as a Hufflepuff room. (I mean, come on, it’s right next to the kitchen.) It’s non-threatening, could look grown-up when family or guests visit, and still shows off our geek pride for those in the know.

When I told my idea to Mr. Geek, he just looked at me and said “Vigo.” Yes, he was referring to Vigo the Carpathian, the villain from Ghostbusters 2. A quick Google Search showed us that the painting of Vigo would indeed look nice in a yellow room with black accents. I would say it could even seem unassuming to a non-geek if it wasn’t for the pile of skulls at his feet. And of course, if Mr. Geek doesn’t go through with his (already vetoed) idea of making the eyes follow people around and also light up.

Vigo
(sigh)

So: Do we go the subtle Hufflepuff route? Or go with a print of the Vigo the Carpathian painting? Let me know your pick (and why) in the comments below. Have a better idea? Leave a comment with that! Once the room is finished, I’ll post pics. Mr. Geek and I both anxiously await your votes. We’re leaving this room in your hands. Don’t mess this up.