October Wrap-Up 2014

The end of October is upon us! Is everyone stoked for Halloween? I’ve decided not to do much this year, as I am more broke than I’ve ever been in my life *cry-laugh* But I’ve had a really eventful month, so I can’t complain too much!

♫ YES, ALWAYS HAIR

Here’s my hair progression of the month, haha! Currently HATING Little Mermaid Red on me, oh my gosh. I think it’s really just too edgy for me. I like it cute! I have to go darker/browner for my Ellie hair coming up, but after that, I’m either going dark green and blue, or back to coral. We’ll see how I feel!

♫ ARMY-BOYF

So, I’ve mentioned before that my boyfriend is a war vet. He was part of the US Air Force for many years and was deployed four times. Upon separating, he immediately realized he was not cut out for civilian life. So for the past three years, he’s been trying to get back into the service, with no luck. Until now! He’s managed to get into the US Army Reserve and will be doing basic training in January. I’ll miss him, but I really want him to be happy and I know this will be good for him!

♫ WEDDING STUFF

Relax. I’m not getting married. Yet. My boyfriend’s brother got married to his lovely fiance last weekend and it was a BLAST! I’ve always been absolutely obsessed with wedding and grand ceremonies celebrating a couples’ love, but I tried to tone down my obsession during boyf’s bother’s engagement, so that I wouldn’t steal any thunder. But now that their wonderful wedding has come and gone, my Pinterest Wedding board is filling up, I’m rewatching every episode of Say Yes to the Dress, and looking at venues.

Just to clarify, I was like this even before I started dating my boyfriend three and a half years ago. But I AM hoping that maaaaybe the question will come along some time in 2015? Heheh.

♫ What I’m listening to:

• Weezer – Eulogy for a Rock Band (From Weezer (my favorite band)’s new album. So SO good. Really returned to their roots with this album in terms of feel and I’m just soaking it in!)

• Capital Cities – One Minute More (First heard this while pissing in a Sheetz! Thanks to the magic of Shazam, I can listen to it for all time now)
• Jimmy Eat World – The Middle (This song still means so much to me. I have really bad ADHD and have gotten used to and internalized the feeling of being being a failure. This song really helps me when I’m down)

♫ What I’m watching:

• BoJack Horseman (So so so good! Hilarious and raunchy, but somehow a really moving story!)
• Gotham (I feel like the show has a few tone problems, but I LOVE it so far! Best Cobblepot interpretation EVER)

♫ What I’m playing:

• Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (Can’t afford too many games right now, but luckily I managed to pick a GREAT one!  What a fun game)

So that’s what I’ve been up to. Lots of issues with ADHD-I this month and I can’t seem to get anything done (including blogging, obviously). I got my old old job at the bookstore back to supplement my two days at the library, so hopefully I’ll be able to afford insurance and get ahold of some ritalin without it costing me an arm and a leg! Then perhaps blogging will come easier!

Hero Box // Sidekick Box

Just wanted to give all my nerd friends a heads up for an awesome new program by Superhero Stuff! Seems they’ve jumped on the subscription box bandwagon (which I’m totally pleased about because damned if I don’t love me a good subscription box). I present to you: Hero Box!

In case you’re unfamiliar with how a subscription box works, here’s the pretty simple concept. You pay a certain amount of money each money, and you’re sent a mystery box based around the theme of the company. I’ve done makeup sub boxes, food, geek stuff. But my PASSION is big two superheroes! So when I saw news of this in a recent email– it goes without saying that I was pretty fuckin’ stoked!

“But Elyse, you fool,” I hear you say, “I only like Marvel! I don’t want a bunch of DC junk in my living space!” First of all, that’s whack (I’m a DC gal)! Secondly, no problem! You can choose to have your box stuffed with either Marvel or DC goodies! Like both? Feelin’ saucy? Choose, “Surprise Me!”

Now while I am affiliated with and do keep an ad for Superhero Stuff in my sidebar, I’ll have you know that I really dislike copious amounts of sponsored posts and advertising on any blog. So I want you to know that these dudes are NOT sending me a free box for review or anything like that (dang, I wish!). I just really love the idea of a specifically superhero-themed box enough to make a post about it. I’ll be buying the $30 Sidekick Box, personally (only workin’ 8 – 16 hours a week, man), and will definitely be reviewing it once my box arrives!

Hope to see what y’all get, should you subscribe!

Future Cosplays

Fact: I used to LOVE going to cons. Although I wasn’t very skilled and was quite chubby, I would still cosplay and nobody EVER gave me a hard time about it. Cosplay was something that brought people together to celebrate the media they were passionate about. It wasn’t about being thin or to-the-T accurate. It was about having fun and just really loving a show/comic book/video game. That was over eight years ago. Since then, I’ve seen people become mean and petty toward cosplayers who maybe aren’t the best at sewing. I’ve seen chubbier girls told they shouldn’t be cosplaying because it’s not “accurate.”

These things turned me off of cosplaying for MANY years. I was too scared to be the one getting negative comments. I didn’t want to face the reality that I’d be the one being asked to get out of the picture so someone could photograph my prettier friend. Even if that’s not what it’s all about, remarks like that can hurt! I didn’t want to associate something I found so fun with something that hurt.

Thanks to a bunch of REALLY cool ladies in the blogging world, who also happen to be excellent cosplayers (Mia at xo Mia, Gwen at A Geek and Her Oven, Cazz at Nerd Burger, and Anna at Glitzy Geek Girl, just to name a few), I finally feel confident enough to dip my toes back into the water again!

What I currently need in a costume is something that I can make with already existing items. I’m just beginning again for the first time since high school (a looooong time ago, now), and I’m not totally confident in my sewing and fabrication skills. So here are the three I’m planning:

1.) Bee // Bee and Puppycat

As you know from past mentions, I love me some Bee and Puppycat! Bee’s outftit is super cute, but super simple! I could easily make this from items already in existence! I know how to make embroidered patches, so the little bee on her sweatshirt shouldn’t be too difficult.

2.) Android 18 // Dragonball Z

Do y’all know how hard it is to find a non-pornographic picture of Android 18?! Well, let’s just say you gotta turn safe-search on before you google her. This is another case of being able to scrounge together already-existing items, with the exception of the back patch, which I can easily make and sew on.

3.) Ellie // The Last of Us

This one will take the most work, but I’m going to put my all into it because I LOVE Ellie and The Last of Us so much. I have to do this costume justice, because I haven’t enjoyed a game so much since I was a little girl playing Ocarina of Time. Luckily, it’s still a fairly easy costume and will only need some distressing and dirtying to get right.

I’m already super-stoked over these future cosplays and am looking forward to keeping everyone updated on my progress! I can’t help but think about the things I want to do after these to push my boundaries a little more, but I’ve got to keep my eyes on the prize and do my best with these for the time being! Woohoo!

Wednesday Wants Vol. 25

Hey dudes! This was actually a kind of tough one. I have SO little money right now that I can’t even afford to think about wanting things, haha. But hey, I can always find a little something. So lets’a go!

1.) Floral Boots via Taobao

What would I do for these boots? Pssh, don’t even ask me– you don’t wanna know! They combine all my loves! Boots, floral print, and metal studs. *Fans self* Oooohhhh myyyyy.

2.) Lovely and Lush Bag via Modcloth

I really need a cute as fuck small bag for more fancy occasions. I know this wouldn’t be considered very fancy to most, but you know I can’t just be carrying around some plain thing, haha.

3.) Batman Arkham Knight

WHOOO’S STOKED? It’s no secret that I love Batman. And one of my favorite corners of the Batman universe are the Arkham games. Great gameplay combined with an obvious love and respect for the source material make for some AWESOME games, and I am so excited for the next installment with one of my favorite villains at the forefront: Scarecrow.

4.) Flying Burger People Eater Sweater via Modcloth

This one isn’t out yet, but ohhhh do I need it! I love cheeseburger themed things, haha. And can you have enough mint-colored sweaters, really, especially now that it’s fall in my neck of the woods!

5.) “Don’t Be a Prick” Wood Slice Painting by Jesiiii

Words to live by on an adorable little cactus!

6.) Cupcake Boobie Mesh Top by Knickerocker

Oh how I wish my titties were a little more shapely! This is a really cute, cheeky, playful top. All of Knickerocker’s stuff is SO cute and SO confident. Maybe some of their other stuff would suit my bod, haha.

Still kickin’

Hey dudes! I know it’s been a long while since I last updated the ol’ blog, but thanks so so much for sticking around. It means the world to me that you’ve kept following me through this drought (and if you just haven’t purged your followed blogs lately, well, that’s okay too, haha!).

The truth of the matter is that it’s been a difficult transition, coming back to Virginia. I’m in a MUCH better place now, mentally. Steve, my boyfriend, is doing so SO much better now that we’re here. But I’m feeling very lost.

When I was in Pittsburgh, I had a full time job, benefits, my own place, lots of opportunities to do fun things. Now I’m employed for only 8 hours a week, I can’t even afford Obamacare, and feel very guilty for burdening my in-laws. I’m not depressed, but I feel pretty discouraged. I know good things will come along, and soon, but not be as successful as you thought you’d be is a hard pill to swallow.

My lack of confidence has effected my will to blog up until now, and I apologize for that. I really expected things to be the opposite– that I’d feel free and inspired. But I’m getting to a place where I’m ready to grab at the things I want and the things I want to do!

So thanks for standing by me, y’all. I’m feeling an upswing. And yes, that means a Wednesday Wants is coming up this week, haha!

Wednesday Wants Vol. 24

Hey y’all! Today I have an interview at a library, so wish me luck! Eeeeep! I am, generally speaking, a good interviewee. I’ve never not gotten a job that I’ve interviewed for. But still. There’s a first for everything and I gotta make sure to turn on the charm!

 

1.) Pink Mushroom Patch by ????

So I saved the picture a while back with the name of the shop, but now I CANNOT find that shop for the life of me. I also did a google image search for it– no dice! But whatever. It’s so super cute, I would cover a whole denim jacket in just this patch!

2.) Bumblebee Bow by Always Anchors

As you know, I loooooove bumblebees and honeybees! I just dyed my hair red again, so I’m looking forward to wearing a lot of yellow– woohoo!

3.) Bow Skinny Jeans from Many Places

I was able to find these jeans on a lot of different Chinese websites! I recently gained quite a bit of weight because of stress, but when I lose it again (the sizing on those sites is very small!!), I’m absoLUTEly getting a pair of these.

4.) Alien Plugs by Magic Circle Clothing

AHHHHH. Give them to me, now!

5.) Whatever Shirt by fASHLINdotcom

Look at these awesome 90’s ladies as aliens. Look at them. Put them on your body! Seriously, though, Judy was one of my very favorite characters when I was a child. So ~dramatic~

6.) Pastel Kaiju Negora by Max Toy Co

Cute cute cute cuuuuuuute! I could never afford a Kaiju Negora (they’re really surprisingly expensive!), but man do I love them! Especially the pastel ones!

July Wrap-Up 2014

Hey dudes! Today is moving day for me! I’ll be driving 6.5 hours from Pittsburgh to Powhatan, VA in a car with no air conditioning, YIKES! But I’ve got a but-tonne of newly burnt mix CDs for the occasion and I’m ready to go! This wrap-up will be more of a “what the fuck has Elyse even been up to? Sheesh!” Well, here ya go!

♫ EVEN NEWER HAIR

So I had to get rid of the pink! I’ve got interviews coming up back home and I can’t be havin’ them knowing I’m just some punk, haha. So here’s my pearly ‘do (sorry about the skin-softening filter– I had broken out really REALLY badly that week). I’m going to try to get it to blond before my Wednesday interview. When I get a job, I’ll ask about their unnatural hair policy, heheh!

♫ MOVING

So we’re leaving Pittsburgh today. It’s been a really fun two years, but it’s just better to be near family right now. Frankly, while Pittsburgh will always be a second home to me, I’ve very excited to be going back home to Central VA. We’ll be living in a rural county called Powhatan with his parents, and I’m excited to be back in the country! I need my space, man.

♫ KOMBUCHA

A few weeks back, my boss gave me a SCOBY that he grew while brewing kombucha, and I’ve been going crazy with it!

What’s kombucha, you ask? It’s a fermented tea that’s consumed as a health drink! It’s very very simple to make. You obtain a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast, kind of a mushroom with bacteria), place it in cooled sweetened black tea (or any kind of caffeinated tea!) and leave it for a week. Ta-da! You have kombucha!

The fun part is the second fermentation, though. You can strain the kombucha into bottled with fruits or juices added. If you leave it out for two days, then refrigerate, this carbonates it! You have a delicious kombucha soda! I’m drinking grape kombucha soda right now! :9

♫ What I’m listening to:

• CHVRCHS – Lungs (Can’t explain how much I love this right now)

• Guster – Amsterdam (The feel of this song is definitely reminds me of the happier times in my adolescence!)
• Poliça – Wandering Star (New (to me) band to look out for!)

♫ What I’m watching:

• Trailer Park Boys (Very funny, very unique cast, but beware if you don’t like potty mouths!)
• Project Runway Season 13 (Pretty good so far, but I don’t like some of the bullying)

♫ What I’m playing:

• Destiny Beta (Mixed feelings. I wanted more of an MMO feel than a multiplayer FPS feel…)
• The Last of Us Remastered (OMG. Gorgeous. Not a huge difference, but noticeable for sure!)

 

This week starts my regular posting again, as well as commenting on others’ blogs again! You’ll definitely be hearing more from me. I’ve even started a blogging calendar to keep me motivated and on track! 

LETSA GO.