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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites: October 11

Friday Faves 10-11

This week I’ve been prepping for GeekGirlCon and trying to get through some other To-Dos. In fact, I’ve even “Cinderella’d” myself. If I can work extremely hard today and get most of my To Do’s done, then I’m taking off a WHOLE day tomorrow. Unplugged, away from everything. I haven’t done that in forever and I can’t wait! Wish me luck!

Here are some of my favorite distractions from the past week:

Favorite Video: “The Art and Science of How Siri Speaks”
If you ever wanted to learn more about voice communication software (or heck, even if you haven’t), watch this video. The process used to get the robotic voices we hear on our phones and in automated call centers is fascinating! Watch it here.

Favorite Blog: ElizabethBanks.com
Elizabeth Banks has a blog. And unlike many other actor blogs, it’s actually funny and pretty geeky. It’s technically a Tumblr and includes posts (or Tumbls? I dunno the lingo, man) on being a mom, The Hunger Games, recipes, funny videos/photos, and profiles of other bloggers/vloggers (Jenna Marbles, in particular). Find it here.

Favorite Game: Cookie Clicker
Cookie Clicker is addictive. You just click on a cookie. A lot. It makes other cookies. Sometimes you use your cookies to buy things like Grandmas or Antimatter condensors that will help you make more cookies. That’s it. You’ll be playing it for the full day, guaranteed. I reopened a window of the game to grab the url, and I just started clicking cookies uncontrollably. I have a problem. Send help. And then click some cookies.

Favorite Challenge: The Doubleclicks’ Weekly Song Wednesday
The Doubleclicks have started creating weekly songs, and it’s really fun to see what they come up with. This week’s “Cats and Netflix” accurately sums up my feelings about Fall/Winter in the Northwest. Listen to them all here!

News

Pre-Order Geeky Hostess Merch for GeekGirlCon!

Geek Girl Con Pre-Order

 

I will have my first ever Geeky Hostess booth at GeekGirlCon and I can’t wait! I’ll be selling Geeky Hostess products, giving out cupcakes, sharing some upcoming projects, and chatting with all of you. Since I haven’t sold my merch at a convention before, I don’t know how quickly items will sell or what will be most popular. Because of this, I’ll be starting small. There will be limited quantities of all products and sizes. If you’ll be attending GeekGirlCon and want to make sure you get an item, order now with code GGCPREORDER. You won’t be charged for shipping, and your order will be ready and waiting for you under your name (and may include a small surprise!). Pre-orders will be cut off at the end of the day on Wednesday, October 16th, so get them in soon!

If you’re attending Geek Girl Con, make sure you stop and visit me at booth 202! I’ve got mini cupcakes for you. I’ll also be on the panels “Home Geek Home” and “Geek Etiquette,” both held on Saturday. See you there!

A Geeky Home

Grid Table Cloth for Dinner Parties, D&D

Grid Tablecloth

I’ve been on a “tabletop” kick lately, and although I usually mean gaming when I say that, this time I mean decor. Table runners, placemats, napkin rings, centerpieces–it’s a magical world with so many options and I’m having a blast exploring it. Every once in a while I find something that merges both meanings of “tabletop” into one glorious product.

One such product is this doodle tablecloth. It features a grid pattern and comes with washable fabric markers so you can write right on it. Now you don’t have to have dinner then clear off the table to set up for Dungeons and Dragons–you can do it all at the same time! After the campaign’s over, wash the tablecloth and you’ll be all set for the next one!

The tablecloth is available at Amazon.com in two different sizes. What would you use the tablecloth for?

Events, News

Gaming and Cooking for the Kids: Extra Life 2013

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It’s that time of year. Time to start prepping for a 24 hour gaming fest with my friends at Team Hypercube! Last year, they played video games for 24 hours straight while I made 24 hours of video game-inspired food and we livestreamed the whole thing. This year, we’re at it again! On November 2nd, we’ll be participating in Extra Life with games, special guests, food, prizes, and other surprises. In addition to joining them for games, I’ll be making the following:

Breakfast #1
Lunch
Snack
Dinner
Caffeinated Snack(s)
Breakfast #2

If you have any ideas of food from or inspired by video games that you’d like to see me make, let me know in the comments! Last year items included Team Fortress 2’s Sandvich, a caffeinated “health potion,” and a Yoshi Egg Scramble. I’m excited to start brainstorming more recipes! I’ll post the recipes and hopefully some video from the event after. You’ll also be able to tune in and see me cook them live throughout the day. I’ll do a post on November 2nd with a schedule and a link to the livestream.

Extra Life isn’t all just fun and games–it’s also a fundraiser for the Seattle Children’s hospital. If you’re interested in pledging a bit of money to make us go through it, you can do so on my fundraising page. I raised over $500 last year and would love to top that this year! If you do donate, let me know if there’s a certain game you’d like to see us play or a recipe you’d like me to make. Donors get first pick!

Are you participating in Extra Life?

A Geeky Home

Decorate with Skulls

Skull Collection

D.L. & Co. has created an amazing line of skull products that you need for your home. Some are neon, some are metallic, and all are creepy, classy, and a little bit punk all at the same time. Get them for Halloween and keep them up all year round!

You can find the products at Amazon’s higher end shopping site “MyHabit” but you’ve got to move quick: A lot of my favorites (like a skull lantern and a Hemlock diffuser) have already sold out!

Which products are you loving, and how do you decorate with skulls in your house?

Geeky Fashion

Library Looks from Kate Spade

Kate Spade, one of my favorite designers, just released a new collection to obsess over. This time, their inspiration came from the library. I’m in love. Check out some of my new faves below!

Required Reading Bon Shopper

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A large totebag with a card catalog print is begging to be stuffed full of books. $228.

Required Reading Index Organizer

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This tiny purse/organizer has a patent finish that’s supposed to look like mahogany. It even has an organizer pop out when you open it. So cute! $298.

Library Card iPhone 5 Case

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This is just too cute. So perfect for a teacher, librarian, or anyone going back to school. $40.

Dictionary iPad Folio

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You’ll look so smart, people won’t even realize you only use your iPad to play game. $125.

Library Illustration Scarf

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I love that this scarf looks cozy but not too heavy, and it’s also bright. It could be worn year-round! $128.

Fremont Top

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Glasses. Glasses all over your shirt. Your shirt will be able to read SO well. $258.

Boys Make Passes at Girls in Glasses Bangle

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…Because we all know it’s true. Guys dig the smart chicks! (Or at least the ones worth your time.) $88.

By the Book Pendant

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A long, brightly colored locket that happens to be in the shape of a book? Yep. Want it. $78.

Which pieces are you loving?

Geeky Fashion

OOTD: Ador Launch Party

OOTD Ador

I attended the launch of Ador, a shoppable fashion magazine, and thought I’d give a go at the whole “dressing fashionably” thing. Since it was the first day of October, I channeled a bit of a goth vibe with all of the black (including wearing black polish on my nails for possibly one of the first times ever!). Below are the items I’m wearing:

Black studded shirt, Express

Pleather Pleated Skirt, Forever 21

Leather Booties, Cole Haan

Gold Necklace, Jewelmint

Black and Gold Stud Bracelet, Kate Spade

Black Leather Wallet, Rebecca Minkoff

Nail Polish:

I’m rocking my new favorite color, Cleopatra, which was part of my October Julep Maven box. It’s a black polish with a  matte “latex” look that is perfect for a rocker-vibe (or great if you’re wearing a catsuit for cosplay/Halloween)! I also think it’s the perfect unisex polish.

I tried out the whole “accent nail” trend by using a black glitter polish (Julep’s Patti) on my ring fingers to up the sparkle and have them stand out a tiny bit without being overpowering.

Want your own Julep Maven box so you can play around with polish? Get one FREE with code “FREEBOX”. Sign up here.

And make sure you check out Ador and download it for your Android or iPhone! It lets you shop your favorite looks by finding pieces similar to the ones shown in the pictures. It looks extremely addictive, I can’t wait to play around with it more!

What are you wearing as we go into the witching season?

Entertaining, Fun Food

Cupcake Inspiration From the Trophy Book Launch

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I attended the Trophy Cupcakes Book Launch Party over the weekend, and was in awe of how many ways they displayed cupcakes throughout the event. They were all beautiful and a lot of them were pretty unique! Here are some of my favorite bits of cupcake inspiration taken from the event. Keep them in mind for your next party:

Display Your Cupcakes Proudly

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A giant cupcake display looks even prettier when you mix flavors, colors, and sizes of your cupcakes.

DIY Cupcake Station

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This “Decorate Your Own Cupcake” station was a super cute idea, and was clearly being used. Keep in mind: If your party has a lot of kids (or childlike adults), this station will get super messy and most people will focus on quantity of sprinkles over quality.

Gold Frosted Fruit

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A piece of fruit sprayed gold with edible spray paint is an elegant way to top a cupcake. This would be fantastic for a wedding or fancier event!

Cotton Candy/Cupcake Collaboration

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Spun skewered a mini cupcake on a fork and used that to spin the cotton candy onto. It was a super fun and creative element. A bit messy to eat, but still fun!

Decorate with Cupcakes

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Cupcakes don’t just need to be used to feed the masses–they can also be used to decorate the party! Just find a fun container to put them in. (Tip: If it can hold a candle or an air plant, it can hold a mini cupcake!)

Have you done any creative cupcakeing at parties in the past? Let me know in the comments!

Geeky Fashion, Gift Ideas

New Items in the Geeky Hostess Store!

I have two new items in the Geeky Hostess store! Woot!

Princess Tank

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This shirt shares my love of Disney princesses in a more modern, hipsterish way. Show everyone that you liked the original Disney Princesses with this thin, easy to layer tank top. I’ve worn it to Disneyland, conventions, and photo shoots, and always get compliments! $14

X-Ray Tote

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I had the idea for this bag in my head for a long time. Something that shows a subtle geekiness with its Wonder Woman references, but is cute enough to use everyday. The design is created by my good friend Kyle Reardon, who is just amazing. I gave him a basic prompt and he totally rocked the design. Plus, I did my research on totebags to find a bag that’s big enough without being too big. The straps will even fit over your shoulders, which is a HUGE plus for me. This bag will take you from conventions to class to the grocery store easily. $16

You can see these products and more at the Geeky Hostess shop at geekyhostess.bigcartel.com. I’ll also have a booth at GeekGirlCon and will be selling all of the products there. I’ll be setting up a system for pre-orders if you’d prefer to skip on shipping costs and pick up at GGC, and will have more information on that later!

What products would you like to see in the store in the future?

Fun Food, Lifestyle, Recipes

Recipe: “Hot Wing” Salad

Britt, a good friend of mine and blogger at BlondeNerd.com, just had her first salad last night. I know, I don’t believe it either. She refuses to go near lettuce and has avoided salads all her life. I told her that one day I would convert her by taking her favorite meal, Hot Wings, and turning it into a healthy, leafy dish.

Yesterday was that day. With the help of Whole Foods and their Whole Kids Foundation, I created a recipe to encourage more people to eat salads. And if I can get Britt to eat more veggies, I can get ANYONE to. According to Whole Foods, “replacing one meal a day for a salad could translate into the reduction of 100 calories per day. That’s 10 pounds in one year!  ” So my thinking is: Let’s take some of our favorite unhealthy foods and turn them into slightly-less-unhealthy salads. We still get the flavors we crave while also getting our daily veggie requirements and filling up on less fattening ingredients. Guess my next challenge is to create a cupcake salad…

Anyway, back to the recipe! Behold: A salad even Britt will eat.

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"Hot Wing" Salad
 
"Hot Wing" Salad
Author:
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Breasts
  • Canola Oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Paprika
  • ½ cup Hot Sauce (I used Bella's Hot Wing Sauce)
  • 3 Romaine Hearts
  • ½ cup Shredded Carrots
  • 3 stalks Celery
  • ¼ cup Blue Cheese Dressing
  • ¼ cup crumbled Blue Cheese
  • 2 Green Onion stalks
Instructions
  1. Slice the raw chicken breasts in half horizontally to make four thin breasts. Season both sides with a bit of salt, pepper, and paprika.
  2. Pour some canola oil into a frying pan (a little more than you would normally use) and let heat up on medium-high heat.
  3. Place the chicken breasts in the pan and let cook for a few minutes on both sites (until inside is not pink and outside is browned).
  4. Place the cooked breasts in a dish, and cover with hot sauce. Flip the breasts over and make sure both sides are fully coated. Place aside.
  5. Chop the romaine hearts and celery and place into a large bowl. Add the shredded carrots.
  6. Add ¼ cup of Blue Cheese Dressing (or more or less as your tastes prefer) to the salad and toss until evenly coated.
  7. Place the salad evenly onto four plates.
  8. Sprinkle crumbled blue cheese on top of the salads.
  9. Slice the chicken breasts and place one on top of the crumbled blue cheese. Garnish with green onions.
  10. Serve with additional dressing and hot sauce as tastes prefer.

Measurements are all able to be messed with: If you like more or less of something in your salad, go for it!

The beer expert at my local Whole Foods recommended the following beers to be paired with the salad:

  • Laurelwood Brewing Co: Organic Free Range Red Ale
  • Double Mountain Vaporizer (dry-hopped pale ale)

What do you think? Would you eat a “hot wing” salad? What other unhealthy dishes should I try to convert into a salad?

If you feel inspired to help kids eat more salads, visit wholekidsfoundation.org or make a donation next time you’re at Whole Foods!

Whole Foods provided me with a gift certificate to create this salad as well as information about their Whole Kids Foundation. Thank you, Whole Foods!