Geek Magazine
Nothing quite like having a magazine to casually flip through while your e-reader is charging. Unlike most other magazines I probably read most if not all of the articles in this one. There's something for every shade of geek and nerd out there.
Ultra Sabers
In case you haven't heard, there's a new Star Wars movie coming out. Just a little indie film... no biggie.... Anyhow, if you have been fangirl frothing at the mouth since you saw the first teaser trailer you know that having your own lightsaber is a MUST. I got my first Ultrasaber at Dragon Con several years ago and marveled at the selection of hilts and blade colors to choose from. They custom made it for me right there and when I finally got it in my hot little hands it was all I could do to not swing it around and make the noise I've been making since I was a little girl dueling my brother with wrapping paper tubes.
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| My original Ultra Saber! |
Amazon Echo
Turning on your lights by hand is so 2014. And looking outside to check the weather? Pffft. Alexa, as she is named, is a total indulgence but I love her so. She tells me Trump jokes and has witty retorts when I ask her for "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot". She plays my music and apologizes when I get mad at her for not being able to answer my questions. I can't hold it against her for long though, when she dims the lights and we watch Walking Dead all is forgiven.
Is a movie really a "thing"? Anyhow, this mockumentary about vampire flatmates in New Zealand was frikkin brilliant and for the first time in years I saw a movie at the theater more than once. Get the DVD, download it, whatever it takes, but watch this movie because it is hilarious and is spawning a sequel that I'm going to do a little dance for.
Google Cardboard
If you can't wait for an Oculus Rift or don't have that kind of budget then get yourself one of these for WAY cheaper. It turns your smartphone into a VR simulator and there are all kinds of apps to make you dizzy or scare the crap out of you. My favorite was the Insidious 3 trailer made for VR. It's a lot of fun watching people experience it too.
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| Experiencing another world via carboard |
Vegan Doc Martens
People are REALLY surprised to find out these aren't real leather, they're by far the best looking faux leather shoes I've come across. There are also patterned canvas boots as well as velvet that are all cruelty-free.
Custom Converse Sneakers
Speaking of shoes... I generall flip from Docs to Chucks depending on the season, what can I say- I'm not a strappy sandal/ spike heel kinda lady. When the zombie apocalypse happens I'll be ready to outrun the girls teetering in platform shoes! Anyhow, you can customize your own Chucks from eyelets to canvas pattern, to the stitching color. In the grads scheme of womens' shoes these aren't too badly priced for some one-of-a-kind shoes.
I'm big on having no regualr lightbulb action going on for my Halloween parties and LED light strips have been an incredible way to make my parties really stand out. They are adhesive and pretty sturdy, come in all colors, and give off an excellent glow. If you really want to up the ante on your next party then just get a few of these and put them under tables or chair rails for a really cool effect.
BerkshireSweet Gold Maple Syrup
If you want to taste some nectar of the gods this stuff is as close as you're going to get. Waffle Sundays wouldn't be complete without a set of these syrups that go from light to dark, each their own little blissful flavor. My mother was using "maple flavored" syrup in a plastic squeeze bottle until I got her some of this for Xmas and she'll never go back.
There's A Map For That Necklace
Again, ModCloth. I know sometimes the clothes and shoes are hit or miss because of sizing but jewelry will always fit. If you want a statement piece that won't break the bank or be too blingy this one is pretty cool. I wear it to work pretty often (seeing as we make maps) and get lots of compliments.
Mountain Majesty Coat
This is by far the prettiest coat I own (as well as the most expensive). It's so elegant though and I get so many compliments on it. It's also nice and heavy, I'm pretty sure if I fell off a dock while wearing it I'd sink like a stone. Even if it's not available anymore ModCloth has the coolest coats and jackets of anywhere I've looked.
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| Ready to get my swing on |
Horrible Adorables
Forget real taxidermy, that's just plain creepy. These are colorful, whimsical critters made of felt and I can't help but buy one every year that she shows up at the local craft show.
Spaghetti Kiss T-Shirts
My boyfriend has some of these in multiples and he is constantly asked where he got them. They're very cool and subtle designs in robots and sea creatures, a little something for everyone.
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| Patrick Stewart approved! |
Claymonster Pottery
Another artist I'm constantly hitting up at craft shows. All of her pieces make me smile and they've made great gifts that always get a good laugh. I've probably gotten one of everything for myself at this point (soap dispensers, spoon rests, cookie jars, etc.) and am going to need to get a larger home so I can expand my monsters.
Tanner Gallery Paintings
When we were wandering New Orleans on a trip a few years ago we came across this Gallery and just loved the depth and haunting qualities to his paintings of forest scenes that are layered in progressively darker or lighter shades. Maybe Oprah can get herself an original but we settled for some prints which I still stop and look at fairly often.
Sticky Fingers Cookbook
For those that aren't lucky enough to live near Sticky Fingers Bakery in DC you can get fat in your own home with this cookbook full of baked goods (vegan!) that have done battle on "Cupcake Wars" and won. I bribe coworkers with cakes from this cookbook and I now have people fighting over who wants to do my crapwork so they can pick out a cake for me to bake.
Tauntaun Sleeping Bag
This was originally a joke product for April Fools day but I guess enough people (like yours truly) are "foolish" enough to want one REALLY badly. I zip myself in this on the couch in the winter with my dog buried in next to me and delight that it doesn't smell bad on the inside OR outside. Think Geek actually has more amazing stuff than I can list so just trust me and do all your Xmas shopping there.
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| Starla keeping the tauntaun warm for me |
Tideline Salvage
Rats, Bats, and Vultures! This guy makes art with pieces of nature that he's scavenged and used to pay honor to much maligned creatures by making him the centerpieces of his art. I haven't got it in me to get one of his "roaches" made of shells but I've got several vultures, a rat, a bat, and a face on the shell of a horseshoe crab that I think are all just lovely.
Aerial Yoga
I am not an athletic girl (obviously) so I prefer the solo forms of work out that are the opposite of CrossFit and Soul Cycle. I decided to give aerial yoga a try on vacation since I do yoga at home and I'd heard the aerial version is great for those of us who aren't rubber jointed and have bad backs. I. LOVED. IT. Not only did I get a better stretch but it was actually pretty fun and took me back to my monkeybar days. Unfortunately the local studio uses the "silks" which dig into me pretty painfully but the studio I went to in Florida used more of a parachute type material and had handle straps. One day I will have a home where I can hang one of these without breaking the ceiling of kicking the TV...
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| Aerial yoga with a bad back |
Bruce Campbell's "If Chins Could Kill"
I love me some Evil Dead/ Army of Darkness and with "Ash vs Evil Dead" on Starz I recently pulled out my autographed copy of this book to flip through again. If you have ever wanted to know what it's like to be Bruce Campbell then you might as well go to the horse's mouth. He is pretty groovy.
"Harpo Speaks!" by Harpo Marx
I have read this book several times in my life and I will likely read it several more. If you have any interest in the Algonquin Roundtable crowd, old Hollywood, or just enjoy some good storytelling then I highly recommed this book. Harpo Marx was the silent brother often overshadowed by Groucho but wow, when he puts words to page I just couldn't get enough. Through Harpo I found so much more to read about and my romance with the film, literature, and arts of the early 20th century began.
"Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers"
Mary Roach has written some of the most obscure yet interesting as hell books I've ever read. Stiff remains my absolute favorite and I find myself recommending it and immediately following it with "no, no, I swear its really good!". If going to see the "Bodies" exhibit doesn't make you squirm so much as lean in fascinated them check out this book about all the amazing things you could do after death. Yeah its a little macabre but I guarantee you'll be much more engrossed in this book than any science lesson you had in school.
Fantastic Plastic
These little suckers are pretty handy for a crafter. You heat them up in water and they're ready to be squished together and molded into just about anything. I've used them to cast prosthetic molds, make little additions to my niece's dollhouse, and frankly it's fun to play with. It hardens within 10 minutes and its reusable if you make a mistake so what's not to love?
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| Used FP on molding clay impressions to create bites made of latex |
Ben Nye Makeup
I first started using Ben Nye products in my college theater days and it had maintained my loyalty ever since. It just does not budge and they have a little bit of everything whether you're going for FX or something dramatic for a photoshoot. I even used it on my cousin for her outdoor wedding in the disgusting Florida heat. Despite a 110 heat index and lots of dancing she didn't look like a melted raccoon during the reception. Ben Nye saved the day!
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| A little nose wax coverd and blended with basic Ben Nye makeup |
Bee Folks Hand Cream
My skin cracks and flakes from the constant purell use at work and scrubbing the paint and glue off my hands at home. This beeswax based cream is thick, smells great, and works amazingly well. I even smear it on my face in the winter because my delicate Florida skin can't take the cold air. Looking pretty good for my age and I'm going to go ahead and attribute that to this stuff.
Dazzle Dry and LVX Nail Polishes
I always love funky color nail polishes but they would inevitably chip and peel until I looked like I'd been working a street corner for too long. I got samples of the toxin and cruelty free polishes and holy manicure Batman! I can go about a week with nails that don't look like a middle schoolers when I use the Dazzle Dry base coat and LVX polish and top coat. And I craft, am clumsy, and constantly use my nails to peel off apple stickers. And the colors are pretty fantastic too, I've slowly been amassing a decent selection. So if you're like me and prefer to paint your own nails on Sunday nights before Walking Dead then I can't recommend these brands enough
So there you have it, some of Geek Girl Friday's favorite things. Not quite on Oprah's level but at least geared more towards those (like me) that couldn't find anything on Oprah's list they were dying to put on their own Christmas list.
