Tag: Recreation

I return, bearing news!

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Hi Internet! I’m not going to make any excuses about how I have been so busy blah blah blah, because they don’t exist. I just didn’t feel like writing! Work was work and life was life and none of it felt particularly blog-worthy (although there were a few blog-worthy moments that I will endeavor to capture now that I am reappearing) so I decided not to worry about it.

But guys, something totally blog-worthy happened this past weekend! Jon and I got engaged! YAY!

This wasn’t particularly a surprise–we’d picked out the ring together in February and Jon was keeping me mostly-updated on the ring’s progress in terms of its being made and returned to him. Due to timeline issues (his not getting the ring back as quickly as he would have liked, my working last weekend for the Durham Art Walk, and both of our parents going out of the country this past Saturday) I was 99% certain it would happen sometime on Saturday. Lo and behold, I was correct!

I don’t have any pictures of the actual proposal because that’s sort of weird (I once witnessed a proposal at Duke Gardens–not like, on purpose, I was just there when it happened–and there was a photographer that the groom had clearly hired to snap pictures of the scene, said photographer was skulking around in the bushes like a stalker and it was extremely off-putting). In lieu of photos I’ll try to set the scene:

Jon commanded that I be up and ready to enter the world (hair, makeup, Spanx), at 9:00am on Saturday morning. Usually I am at the gym then so I said “okie dokie” and rearranged my schedule. I came downstairs to find Jon cooking up a breakfast storm. He’d set up our little patio with a table cloth so we could eat outside (weird mid-April cold snap be damned). Mid-way through my eating he was all “I’m going to get a napkin!” Because I am an over-analyzer I initially thought “Oh he’s totally going to go get the ring” and then I thought “No that would be too obvious he’s just going to get a napkin.” But, nope, he got the ring guys (In case you can’t tell I don’t really like surprises and I am also incredibly hard to surprise–he claims he proposed at breakfast to throw me off but, nope, I don’t miss anything). Actually, he got a little Russian Nesting Doll that he had custom-ordered and then hand-painted with amazing and awesome detail:

 

 

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LOOK HOW TALENTED MY SPOUSAL CANDIDATE* IS!!! He paints Warhammer 40K and other small figures for fun and he’s in dental hygiene school so I shouldn’t be surprised by how good his detail work is but I still am because he’s the best. These pictures are of the individual pieces of the Nesting Doll–obviously they were assembled when he brought it out. The top layer is lots of little pictures of us throughout our relationship, including photos of our families, cut out and then sealed onto an incredibly elaborate background. The middle layer is a black cat, because we have two black cats with whom we are obsessed duh. The bottom layer has Personal Sentimental Message of Significance that I will not share with you and it also had the ring on it (as demonstrated above). How awesome is that guys? Jon is so awesome. Here is another photo:

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So uh, I think I took too long analyzing each layer because Jon was all: “Keep opening it more layers!” and then next thing I knew he was on his knee in front of me doing that whole ask the question thing and I think I said “yes” and then “duh” and then I was like “Are you supposed to put this on me? I’ve never done this before.” And then he put the ring on my finger and we were engaged and now my left hand looks like this (what, you thought you weren’t getting any ring shots, even blurry ones taken with my phone? I totally thought I wouldn’t be That Person but you only get engaged once**) :

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And a profile shot because it shows off the stone really nicely.

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So since we got engaged super early in the morning we were able to call our parents before they went on their trips (not a bad way to kick off their vacations), and then we called a lot of other people, and then we put it on Facebook and got a bazillion messages (oh, social media). That was fun.

What else did we do on our Engagement Saturday? Well when we finally got out of the house around 12:30 we went to Geer Street Garden, in Durham. Though it has been open nearly two years I have never been, but I had a pretty delicious grilled pimento cheese sandwich. Then, because that wasn’t enough dairy for me, we went to The Parlour’s new brick-and-mortar store on Market Street (HOORAY SO GLAD THEY HAVE A STORE) where I deviated from my normal Salted Butter Caramel and tried their Ginger and Dulce de Leche ice cream which was so unbelievably amazing I can hardly stand it. There was some sort of bourbon and crawfish festival happening in the plaza outside of The Parlour but we did not go because lines, lines, lines, although we did hear some off-brand faux-Second Line Band New Orleans-y music. Saturday was beautiful, sunny and in the 60s, and so naturally we decided to spend the rest of it indoors at the Carolina Theatre’s Evolution of the Groovy Movie film festival. We saw Little Shop of Horrors (with the original director’s ending where everyone dies at the end and can we also please have a moment of silence for the brilliant Howard Ashman) and we also saw Weird Science (which I had never seen before–I know). When the movies were over we wandered over to Fullsteam for a bit to have drinks with some friends who were over there. And then we went home, ordered Thai take-out, and watched The Borgias and the first episode of the new SyFy show Defiance (fun and silly). So, you know, basically it was an awesome day.

And now I am engaged and that’s my little engagement story! They don’t tell you this in Life School guys, but the proposal moment goes by really fast–although that just could be because my brain got fuzzy when I saw the Russian Nesting Doll because despite expecting the proposal I had feelings (those are all the sentiments to which I am admitting). I’m going to try to have this not be a wedding blog for the next year or so but no promises, you know? I’m a planner (and I do a lot of event planning for a living) and I love talking about plans and getting married is exciting!

Anyways, at least the next few posts won’t be wedding-related. I have some fun Game of Thrones photos to share, and maybe I’ll start posting about my Triangle adventures again, who knows? Just wanted to share this little life event with y’all on the Great Wide Internet!

*Jon and I don’t really like the term “fiance.” I once saw someone jokingly spell the word “feyonce” on a wedding blog site and that made me laugh, so sometimes I use that term in writing. However, I read this Offbeat Bride post about other terms to use in lieu of “fiance” so I’m testing a few of them out. Although I totally failed today, y’all, someone with whom I am vaguely acquainted asked me how my boyfriend was and I chirped “fiance!” and then held up my left hand and then I felt ALL THE SHAME because I was *that person* and so I hid my hands beneath the table for the rest of our (blessedly brief) conversation.

**Hopefully!

4 Days to Dragon*Con: Thanks for the costume help!

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I need to pause here to do a big shout out to Nancy over at Hemlock Emporium and Valerie over at Antiquarian Boutique for making my Melisandre costume for me!

Nancy’s doing the dress–I’m headed to Raleigh for final alterations today, it should be ready just in time to pop into my suitcase for Dragon*Con!  I might save the final reveal until the convention so don’t expect any photos, I really think that this costume is going to be special so I’m trying to keep the whole thing a surprise.  This dress has been quite difficult–it took Nancy a long time to find an appropriate pattern, and she likens the top layer of fabric to cobwebs, but it looks like it will come together gorgeously.  I’m a big fan of Nancy because she shares my general costuming viewpoint: try to capture as much of the general look and feel of the costume as possible without forgetting that this is a garment that needs to be worn in the real world.  She’s great at offering suggestions on how to make a piece more wearable, and she also doesn’t look at me like I’m nuts when I ask for changes.  This is my third Dragon*Con with a costume that has been made or altered by Nancy.  I’m so glad I found someone local who I like and who I know will be able to help me with my costuming needs!  Everyone in the Raleigh-Durham area should go get costumes from Nancy, she’s the best!

Valerie I found on the Game of Thrones costuming group on Facebook (yes it exists).  I was publicly bemoaning the difficulty of Melisandre’s giant neckpiece, and she quickly offered to make it for me and I happily accepted.  A few months later I received, in the mail, a handmade full neckpiece complete with the shoulder parts, and a belt, and they are great!  The pieces are very truthful to the screen version but they are light weight and fairly easy to wear.  Again, no close-up pictures from me yet, but Valerie took some good pictures that you can see in this album.   She really did an incredible job with a complex, highly-detailed commission.

Thank you so so much Valerie and Nancy!!! I’m so excited to put all the Melisandre pieces together!  This is going to be such a baller costume, I can feel it.  For the night is dark and full of awesome!

6 Days to Dragon*Con: An Eating Guide

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I live in a locavore foodie area and I love great food and restaurant experiences, but this is not what Dragon*Con is about.  While I am not normally of the “food is just fuel” mentality, I go into that mode during Dragon*Con.  The weekend is an endurance test, and I want not-too-unhealthy things that will keep me up and running from panel to panel and into the night.  Additionally, if I don’t eat breakfast and if I don’t eat every few hours I turn into a raging hosebeast, so I need to make sure I have these things on hand.  Here are some of my tips and tricks for eating to feel like a human being at Dragon*Con.

1) EAT BREAKFAST.  Preferably, eat it in your hotel room if you can–it saves time and money.  It doesn’t have to be fancy and shouldn’t need to be refrigerated.  I bring a loaf of whole wheat or multi-grain bread with me along with a jar of low-fat peanut butter, and I throw together a peanut butter sandwich in the morning when I wake up (just don’t forget to bring some disposable knives with you).  Easy, cheap, healthy, and protein-packed–just what I need to start the day.  If I need an extra pick-me-up I grab an orange juice from one of the hotel convenience stores.

English: A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, m...
English: A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, made with Skippy peanut butter and Welch’s grape jelly on white bread. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2)  BRING SNACKS.  We usually have a little cooler that we can fill with ice, so I throw some greek yogurt in there that I can grab as a snack when I’m in the hotel room to fix my makeup.  I also never go anywhere without a granola bar on me–you never know when hunger could strike, it might be in line at a panel or while you are at a party, and you don’t want to have to drop everything and shuffle off to the food court to get some food.  Trail mix and beef jerky are also great options.

3)  Speaking of the food court, it is your friend, and there are ways to eat healthily at the food court.  And also I generally love walking through the food court and seeing people in costumes.   I am a big fan of Moe’s, that sushi place (Yami Yami I think it is called?), and that prepared food place across from the evil Chick Fil-A (I think it is called Cafe Momo).  At Moe’s I usually get a rice bowl or a salad, fill it up with chicken, veggies, and black beans, top it with lots of salsa and dig in.  Yami Yami I typically only hit up once or twice, because it is a little pricey and the line can be long, but they have pretty decent sushi and lots of vegetable options to ensure that you get some green things in you.  And I love Cafe Momo–affordable, lots of healthy protein and vegetable options, and it is usually pretty quick and easy to load up at the prepared foods bar and to be on your way.   There is also a Middle Eastern-ish place somewhere in the food court that offers pita sandwiches and hummus platters, and that’s a solid bet as well, if a bit messy.   All of these places make it very easy to carry your food back to your hotel room so you can eat while watching Dragon*Con TV.  Multi-tasking!

This is what happens if you eat at Chick-Fil-A: You have to wait in line and then the zombie apocalypse comes and then you turn into zombies and eat people and just don’t eat at Chick-Fil-A they fry hate and serve it to you so you get fat. Hate will clog your arteries.

4) That being said, you are on vacation, and it is okay to treat yourself.  I always get at least one Dairy Queen Blizzard, because it is the perfect food, and I sometimes let myself get one fried-food meal although I usually feel pretty gross after, ha, so maybe not this year.  And definitely no evil Chick Fil-A this year.  I love their chicken nuggets, but I prefer my fried chicken to come without a side of hate and intolerance, thank you.  Avoid the pizza place with all your might because it is terrible (unless it has changed ownership).  I’ve also been wanting to try that little noodle place tucked in the corner because it looks yummy, but it always has long lines oi vey.

5)  There is no need to go to a sit down meal, unless this is a thing you like to do at Con?  I have plenty of sit-down meals in my normal life, I’d rather eat and run at Con–there is so much to do, and there is no need to wait for a table at the Hard Rock Cafe, or Fires of Brazil, or Durango.  I know lots of people who have annual dinners with their Con friends, which is cool, but I’d much rather be in the thick of things than going and having dinner elsewhere.  We had lunch at a sit-down restaurant my first year at Con, and my whole experience consisted of me thinking about all the time we were wasting, and how badly I wanted to get back to Con stuff.

But seriously, guys, try to avoid the fast food. I mean, look at what it does to you.

6)  Um, I know this is blasphemous, but I don’t really drink much at Con.  Actually, I don’t really drink much period, and I am such a lightweight that one or two drinks do me in, and I get sleepy so quickly when I drink, and I don’t really have fun or like the way alcohol makes me feel, and I’d rather be aware of my surroundings so I can process all the awesome costumes and remember every detail, so in general I don’t have more than one or two drinks a day.  I KNOW THIS MAKES ME WEIRD, sorry.  Don’t listen to my drinking tips–except for this one.  Buy booze before you go to Atlanta and make your own drinks in the room, and maybe also make a “party bottle” to carry around with you, because the alcohol in the hotels is EXPENSIVE.  Additionally re: booze, do whatever works for you, be safe, and remember to…

7)  HYDRATE.  OMG guys hydrate so much.  I drink a lot of water in my daily life and I probably double that at Con.  All the meeting rooms in all the hotels have water dispensers so make sure to bring a refillable bottle and STOCK UP SERIOUSLY.  Water is your friend.

I have lived by these eating rules and I have yet to get sick at Con (this is likely because I use a lot of hand sanitizer, wash my hands a lot, and generally have a very strong immune system).  Supposedly there are some other secret tips I might be missing, like another food court hidden in the Marriott (although that is only open on Friday), and maybe there are some tucked-away convenience stores I might be missing?  Did I forget anything?  Do you disagree with my tips?  Do you have some tips of your own?  Let me know in the comments!  We’re all in this together!

 

13 Days to Dragon*Con: On Missing Your Cat

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Happy Friday everyone!  This is going to be a brief post, about small, fuzzy animals, and how they can bring us together at Con!  I love meeting new people, and it is so easy to do that at Dragon*Con, and nothing breaks the ice better than “I HAVE A SMALL FUZZY CREATURE THAT I LOVE DO YOU?”

So last Dragon*Con, on Sunday night, I had a conversation with a girl in a Baroness costume about how much we missed our cats.

So that’s the Baroness and me.

And that is us looking at cat pictures.

The Baroness and I both agreed that the one negative about Dragon*Con was that we couldn’t take our cats with us.  At the time Jon and I only had one cat, Dexter, but now we have two kitties!  Behold:

Black kitties!  Such good costume props, right?!

Do you miss your pets when you’re at Dragon*Con, at 2:00am in the morning when you are drunkish and someone has spilled booze on your costume?  Because sometimes when that happens all I want to do is snuggle with a kitty!

 

36 Days to Dragon*Con: Dragon*Con Tips, What I Carry in my Purse

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If Jewish girls did Girl Scouts, I would have been a Girl Scout, because I am always prepared for everything.  I have trouble leaving the house without a huge bag stuffed with everything I might need for the day.  Wallet, phone, keys, sunglasses, of course.  But also a little makeup bag with a mirror, a comb, lip stuff, business cards (professional and person), sometimes my Kindle, reading glasses, band-aids, hand sanitizer, breath mints, a packet of tissues, a few pens, and some hair ties and hair clips.  Oh and a water bottle and also maybe a granola bar if I’m going to be gone more than a few hours.  Sometimes my camera too.

Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies
Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now, all of the above comes with me at Dragon*Con, but other con-specific items join the bag as well.  I found a durable, black, over-the-shoulder canvas bag at Target a few years ago that isn’t too big but still manages to fit everything I need for Con.  No, this bag does not match my costumes.  I don’t care.  I’d rather have my Magic Dragon*Con bag, filled with all the items that keep me going during Dragon*Con.   Here are my Con necessities:

–Everything listed above (except for the reading glasses, because I can survive without them)

–Extras that I add to my little makeup bag vary depending on my costume.  I usually have black eyeliner, the lipstick specific to my costume, and q-tips.  Sometimes I throw in a travel-sized eyeshadow and an eye-and-lip pencil sharpener.

–Eye drops and a contact lens case filled with solution, for the days I am wearing FX contacts for long periods of time.

–Bobby pins and a few extra strips of wig tape, for the wigs.

–Eyelash glue and a pair of extra falsies, just in case my false eyelashes fall off.

–Extra band-aids because, duh.  If I’m smart I’ve also gotten a few of the Band-Aid blister protectors too.

Band-Aid Braille
Band-Aid Braille (Photo credit: BWJones)

–Safety pins

–One time my boyfriend did a costume with spirit gum, and I threw a little thing of spirit gum into my purse, and it actually worked out because we were able to patch some people during the zombie prom, and I really felt like a Girl Scout then.

–Speaking of weird makeup components for my boyfriend’s costumes, I’ve also carried around tiny vials of stage blood.

–Some kind of a snack bar which I usually don’t eat because usually someone I am with is hungover and hasn’t packed a snack and needs one and lo and behold, I HAVE A SNACK AND I AM A SAVIOR.

–At night I usually throw a bunch of glow sticks into my bag and then hand them out to people like some sort of glow stick fairy.  It is an amazing ice breaker and Michael’s usually has bunches on sale for like a dollar.

–An extra camera card and an extra charged camera battery.

–Also somehow I always manage to get the entire newsprint Dragon*Con program stuffed into my bag too.

–Along with my business cards I also carry the business cards of people who have helped me with my costume because I like being a walking advertisement.

–Hand sanitizer (I know I said that above, but, seriously, HAND SANITIZER).

–Refillable water bottle to take advantage of all the free, ice-cold water available in the hotels.  I’m thinking of getting a new one for this year, maybe this water bottle?  Probably in black.

I think that’s it, off the top of my head.  Yes it is a lot but IT ALL FITS and it really isn’t all that heavy and I also feel secure knowing that my amazing Mary Poppins Bag of Magic will take care of any costume emergencies I might have during Dragon*Con.
What do you carry in your bag during Dragon*Con?  Do you even carry a bag?  If you don’t, how on earth do you survive?!?!?  Please let me know.