Glimpse Inside My Studio

Hey, Gang!

 I am so excited to be typing up this post right now. Alex and I have been in the new house since December. We've been working so hard trying to get settled in and things unboxed and trust me it has been a journey. One room I've been wanting to have perfect since I stepped foot in the new house, was my office. At the last house, I didn't really have a space just for me that I could brainstorm and create content in. The last house stifled my creativity, it was just too small.

 Now we actually have a house that we can grow in, and we're so excited we don't even know what to do about it. We've made a stop at Ikea, grabbed a cart (myself) a desk (Alex) and a turquoise blue 3 drawer dresser for the living room (ahem, me). We're going to split the Living room in half, as it is the largest room in the house, other than the basement, and that will be Alex's creative space.

 I've gotten my office organized ALMOST exactly how I want it. I'm just missing a couple of things. 1. I want to gather quite a few bookshelves, two more on one wall, so I can put up my figurines and such on display and then a large one to go into the alcove by the closet for all of my books.

2. I definitely want to get more shelving for my figurines and books. I wish I had a few smaller prints so I could cover more wall space. I'd love to get some prints from Frannerd, Jaqueline Deleon and MaisDue and put them up on my wall, they are three artists that I have been loving for a while now and I would love to display some of their inspirational work in my studio.

3. Get a wireless keyboard, to control the television from the other side of the room, instead of having to get up to switch episodes, movies etc.

 I originally wanted to get a chaise, or love seat for the other side of the room, so I could have something comfortable other than my rolling desk chair for gaming and relaxing. I bought a mini love seat sofa for $30 but the hallway leading to my studio is so weirdly shaped, that Alex and I weren't able to get it inside. Luckily, we made a random stop at goodwill, and there was this adorable white teacup chair, with a super soft cushion, it was priced for 15, but it was 50% off everything so I wound up walking away with it for only 8 bucks! You literally can't beat it!

 I'm so excited to create even more awesome youtube videos in this room, it's like double the last room I was creating in, I almost don't know what to do with all the space! Having room to move and actually create in has been great for my youtube videos if you haven't noticed. They're clearer, more precise, and looking great if I may add.

 If you didn't know, I also have a youtube channel, called Nerdette Minute. I create short opinion videos about Comics, Anime, Television, Film and Vlogs. It's pretty small right now, only 30 subscribers, but I absolutely love it, and I'm hoping that posting about it here, will help it grow. I will have a video tour soon, but for now, I just couldn't resist showing you guys where I create.

Where do you create? What would be in your studio? Let's talk about it on Twitter

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Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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Nerdette Minute #48: C2E2 '17 Haul

Hey, Gang!

  Oh my goodness you guys, C2E2 this year was amazing. I managed to go Saturday and Sunday. I was in cosplay all day on Saturday, and I came to the conclusion that I will NOT cosplay anything with a tail at a big convention EVER AGAIN! I was being jostled left and right, my costume was all white, and there were so many people walking around with open glasses of beer. I don't even know how to describe it.

 I spent so much you guys oh my goodness, I literally went WAY over budget. Thankfully, I already put some away in case of emergencies. I didn't need it for the convention, but rent is right around the corner and I'm definitely feeling it now. I'm going to show you all of the things I bought during the two days, including signed comics!


There will be a full post about my C2E2 shenanigans coming along, complete with photos, who I met and my entire cosplay, and a D.I.Y. on how I made my Vulpix ears. So make sure you subscribe to my channel, Nerdette Minute, and to Nerdette At Large on Bloglovin, so you don't miss out on anything.

Have you gone to a con yet? Were you at #C2E217? Let's talk about it on Twitter!

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Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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Adventures with Spokhette #15: A visit to the Library

Hey, Gang!

 If you guys have been reading my blog for long, you'll know that I love reading. One of my favorite places to spend my time is my local library. My county has quite a few libraries in it, so even though I've had my library card since I was 5, misspelled last name and all, there are still a few libraries that I still haven't gotten the chance to visit yet.

  After watching Devotion of Suspect X, I was so inspired to read the actual book series, that on the drive home from the theater, I put the entire series on hold. Moving into our new home, put us in a different neighborhood with a new library to explore. After getting my bearings in the new place, I decided to explore and pick up my new holds.

 For the first time in a while, I picked up an audio book, The Night Circus by Morgenstein, narrated by Jim Dale, who if you don't know, also did the Harry Potter Series. Not even going to front, I picked up the book based on that alone, but I'm 75% done and it's not too shabby, so I guess it was a good choice. I also picked up the entire Detective Galileo series. The books are pretty thick, so between work, getting ready for C2E2 and making sure that I'm coming up with original content for you guys and Quirktastic, hasn't left me with much time to sit down and read.

 One of the things I was surprised by in the library was their fancy check out system. The last time, I used an Ohio library, they had a small scanner that you would slide your book under and that's how you did self-check out. Now, they have this little black mat, and as soon as you put your books down, they scan the pile, they can take up to 5 at a time!!! I wanted to look around and ask "What is this Witchcraft?" but no one was around to hear it.

What's your favorite place to get books? Got any new reads lately? Let's Chat about it on Twitter. 

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Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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Spokhette Does C2E2!

Hey Gang!

  I 'm stopping in to tell you that I will be in Chicago, Illinois all weekend. Today marks the beginning of our third year heading up to C2E2! As you may or may not know, it's my favorite convention. I spend all year saving money to go up to this convention. Costuming definitely got away from me, with the craziness of work, but I am still planning on being Ice Vulpix for the Weekend. I will be attending Saturday and Sunday. If you see me, make sure you come say hi!

 Here are a few things I'm looking forward to doing this convention!

- Doing a Collaboration with Nerdily Blog!

- Getting Professional Photos done of my Ice Vulpix Cosplay. My first professional shoot too!

- Getting my entire series of Lil' Gotham signed by Dustin Nguyen.

- Meeting Svengoolie, Christina Stewart and Jen Bartel!

- Getting more art scrolls, and t-shirts.

Are you going to #C2E2? Let's meet up! Leave it in a comment, or hit me up on Twitter!

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Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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Nerdette MInute #47: NO! Joss Whedon for Batgirl

Hey Gang!

  If you've been reading my blog for a while then you'll know how I feel on three accounts. That I despise the Killing Joke, that I'm a huge fan of Barbara Gorden, and after this video...That Joss Whedon should go kick rocks and stay far far away from female characters in general, especially Iconic ones.

 I saw on Twitter the other day, that he was in talks to direct or Produce, it wasn't too clear, a Live action Batgirl for the DCEU. I put together a video about 5 reasons why he doesn't deserve the gig. Hope you give it a watch! Don't forget to like and Subscribe!

 Do you think he's fit to produce a live action Barbara? Or Cassandra Cain? Let's talk about it on Twitter!

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Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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Cinema #29: Devotion of Suspect X

Hey Gang!

  About a week ago, Alex and I were trying to figure out how to spend our free Sunday. We'd woken up pretty early, and couldn't go back to sleep. After suggestions, that contained way too much energy such as bowling and mini golf, we decided to go see a movie. AMC Newport is one of our favorite theaters. Moveable armrests, refillable slushie machine, they show oldie's, indie's, foreign film and double features.

 So after discovering that a Chinese Language film had just been released and was being shown nearby, AND it was based off a detective series, of course, I was sold. We arrived a little early, and once the movie started, there were only 5 in the theater not counting us. I'm going to go into more detail about the film in a bit, tell you what I liked and what I didn't, but let me just say this now. GO SEE IT. ABSOLUTELY GO SEE IT! After watching it, on the drive home, I put the Detective Galileo series on hold at my local library, that's how much I enjoyed the movie.

  One of the biggest things I liked about this film was it's sense of logic. Pitting two Mathematicians against each other is already something that is going to interest me. Foreign mystery is also super fascinating to me, not only do they have their own logical reasoning and rules to their detections, but there are also cultural differences that can also be incredibly helpful in solving the case. I'm not saying that American mysteries are lacking, just that Foreign ones, especially Asian, seem to have a zeal that we just don't possess.
  You guys know I'm a sucker for a good one-liner. Professor Chuan has a pretty good one in this. He who thinks, wins. Even though I am nowhere near a fan of mathematics, I can respect that in order to best your opponent, you'd first need to think about your options, after all, a mind in a terrible thing to waste. I absolutely loved the forward thinking that Chuan possessed, and executed throughout the film, flawlessly.

The third and last thing that had me on the edge of my seat about this film, was its twists and turns. So many things happened, that I just did not expect. I was on the edge of my seat, writing down notes, and following every clue I noticed, and even I did not see the final plot twist. The film was written beautifully, and even though I haven't read the novel yet, I have a feeling that it did it justice. The musical score was stunning, and the story pulled at my heartstrings. I'm sure I wasn't the only one tearing up in the theater.
  I'm trying this new thing, where I write about film but don't post spoilers? So I'm hoping that my film posts are still something that you are interested in reading. Please let me know in the comments below. I want to provide quality content, but not everyone is a fan of spoilers, and I realized that even though I write it in the titles, that it may be scaring people away from reading it at all, so if it works for you, please make sure you let me know!

Have you read the Detective Galileo series? Have you seen this film? Let's Chat about it on Twitter!

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Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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March Favorites!

Hey, Gang!

 I know it's the 3rd week of April, and it seems a little late to be talking about last month favorites, but hey! Don't judge me. Here's a bunch of awesome things that I discovered during the month of March, and why!

- Crash Fever: A free downloadable game for your phone. Both Android and Apple. It's a puzzle game with no serious line of rhyme or reason. Your puzzle pieces just kind of drop from the sky and connect in weird ways that you may not always be able to replicate. They follow a color scheme, blue stops red and so forth and so on. It's very similar to Puzzles and Dragons and I AM IN LOVE!! I'm addicted. I log on and play a level every day. It's been about three full weeks and I have yet to put it down.

- Josie and The Pussycats: I found and finished the 80's cartoon. I loved it! I wanted to do a full post and video about it like the Drak Pack, but then my father told me there was a series where they were in SPACE! I'm still on the search for it, and I thought it would be a unique post.

- I was able to get out of the house a decent amount this past month. I was able to visit 5 graveyards in different parts of the state this year! Lebanon, Hillsboro, Kentucky, and even 2 in one trip!

- You'll get a full post about this on Friday, but Alex and I had the opportunity to see a brand new, just released foreign film at our local theater! We were able to see The Devotion Of Suspect X, the day it came out, a Chinese film based on the super-popular Detective Galileo series by Japanese Author, Keigo Higashino.

- I also had the opportunity to get out of the house and hang out with my very best gal pal, Layla. Even though we live in the same city and neighborhood, we're so busy that I hadn't seen her in a year and a half! So when she told me she was off some random Saturday, I know it had to be kismet! We ogled over Fanny Packs and games that I want but can't afford, because all of my money is going to C2E2.

- I decided that I would give my natural hair a break in the middle of February. I've been wearing it natural since then, and it has definitely grown like a weed! It's so long, that it touches past my shoulders when curled! I know I don't talk about hair a lot on here, but I've been struggling for a while to get to where I am and now I want the world to know~!

- I reached level 5 in Stella Glow this month! I've been playing this moveable story JRPG for a bit now, as soon as I bought it, I tore it open and got started. The biggest thing I like about this game is that it doesn't let you roam, so I can't get lost! Getting lost, and drop down attack menus are the bane of my gaming existence. So even though, I'm being guided, like a child, it's still a rather enjoyable game.

- After our 2nd trip to Ikea, I picked up this absolutely adorable Cactus Plushie. I kind of wish that it had a face honestly, but the little bug with big eyes will have to do. It's even potted!


- This month's fave definitely has to be discovering Pei The Dragon on Instagram! Her illustrations are absolutely ethereal, and you have to check them out!

What did you do Last Month? Let's chat about it on Twitter!

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Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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Where Have I Been?

Hey, Gang!

  I literally can not believe how fast life is zooming past me right now. It's getting hard to catch my breath. I haven't really updated you guys at all about what's been going on in my life, and what's been keeping me from updating with the general schedule of Nerdette At Large. For a while, I've been trying to keep up with a Monday, Wednesday and Friday Schedule, with a new youtube video on Thursdays.

 Unfortunately, because of the stress of everything going on right now, I have had to take it down to Monday, Thursday, and Friday and even that is a bit of a stretch right now. If you didn't know I am juggling three jobs right now. A Picture Day photographer, Monday through Friday in the wee hours of the morning, I'm generally up at 4 am. A Pizza Server, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Nights, until about 11 p.m. and these are pretty much the busiest nights of the week, so I'm constantly running around.

 I also contribute articles for the Geekery section of Bryanda Law's brainchild, Quirktastic Media. All of this on top of trying to create content here and on youtube for you guys. I am in love with my blog and don't worry it's not going anywhere. While I spend energy sharing my creative thoughts and ideas for others gain at the moment, I will always be interested in creating content for myself, which I would then share with you guys!

  I just wanted to give you guys a little bit of an inside look of my mind when I create. I wanted to kind of apologize and acknowledge that I'm not quite up to my content creating standards right now, but all I ask is that you bear with me because I'll be back to peak creating performance shortly. So thank you so much for those that have stuck with me for so long. Also, Thank you and Welcome to anyone new that may be reading this post.

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Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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Nerdette Minute #46: Stickers from Ieafy

Hey Gang!

  About a 5 weeks ago, I ordered some stickers from this amazing artist I found on Twitter, named Ieafy. I loved how colorful her art was and how it was lineless. When I found out that she created stickers and prints for purchase, I knew I had to grab some of her stickers. So I wound up ordering the Alolan Pokemon Set, The Electric Pokemon Set and the Chao Set from Sonic Adventure. She even included a little thank you card with even more stickers on it!

Are you a sticker fan?  Let's talk about it on Twitter! Don't forget to Like + Subscribe to my channel! 

 Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Twitch Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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A Chat with: Lauren of Dresses and Capes

Hey Gang!

 I'm so excited to be doing interviews again, it's been such a long time! I'm so excited to introduce you guys to Lauren, the awesome cosplayer and seamstress behind the blog Dresses and Capes. I discovered her on instagram right after she completed the most amazing Kiki's Delivery Service, and I thought, I have to get her on the blog! So without further ado, let's get to know a little about her.

Tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, I’m Lauren a fashion blogger, comic book enthusiasts, avid moviegoer, and casual cosplayer. Geez, when I describe myself I sound so all-over the place! I can’t help it though. I have a lot of different interest, that all take up a little bit of my time leading to me having no time!

How long have you been cosplaying?

I actually just started cosplaying in fall of 2014. I always admired cosplayers, and thought I would never have their skill or talent, so I never tried. Then, all of a sudden I decided to go to a local small con, and decided to cosplay something very simple, River Song from Doctor Who. It seemed like a natural fit because I love Doctor Who and River and I have the same hair! Looking back, I am somewhat embarrassed about how little effort I put into this first cosplay. I actually made the whole thing the night before, but at the time I was so proud and happy to cosplay a character I love.

What are some of your hobbies?

Well, as I mentioned I also am a fashion blogger (granted I am WAY behind on posting). I love to dress up, especially in vintage pieces, and sashay around. One of my favorite quotes is about being dressed up for life, because life is the occasion.

I also am a huge comic book and movie nerd. My love of comic books actually started thanks to my mom, who loved the X-men growing up. We used to watch the cartoon together on TV, and she would randomly bring me comic books (ranging from X-men to Spider-Woman to Barbie’s Adventures). My mom, is such a huge support in my love of nerdom that I don’t know what I would do without her. In regards to movies, almost every weekend during the summer I am at the movie theater seeing the latest release and discussing it with anyone who will listen. I am also a big fan of classic Hollywood films; two of my favorite films are “Rear Window” and “A Streetcar Named Desire”.

Do you prefer to cosplay alone? or with others?

Well, I only did my first group cosplay recently and had a blast! But, there is something nice about cosplaying alone too. There is a bit less stress about how your cosplay will look next your counterparts, and you don’t have to worry about cohesiveness.

But I would definitely do another group cosplay!

What is your most expensive cosplay?

The hard question, haha! I think my most expensive cosplay was my most recent one of Sombra from Overwatch. While the materials for her coat were not that expensive (thank the gods for the Fashion District), her bodysuit and wig were quite expensive. I usually make every part of my cosplay myself but this time I decided to just order her bodysuit online, and I’m happy I did, as I don’t think I would have been able to find a fabric that would match her design. And for her wig, I bought a pretty high quality ombre wig that I dyed and styled myself (her wig consists of two separate wigs I had to sew together). In addition, I always seem to rack up a lot of little costs along the way; a bit of glue here, some worbla there, and some more spray paint for good measure.

But I feel it was all worth it, as I plan to wear Sombra again for an upcoming shoot and love how the whole cosplay came out. I will be making a few adjustments though.

What is your favorite costume?

My favorite cosplay is actually tied between Sombra and my Sorceress Kiki. I love Sombra because it was an incredibly challenging cosplay to make but so rewarding to see it all come together. It was also amazing to walk the convention floor and have people immediately recognize who I was. Plus, I so rarely do “serious” characters that it was fun (and somewhat challenging) to not smile in pictures.

I love my Sorceress Kiki cosplay, because it was completely an original idea that I was able to create from the ground up, especially with a character I love and relate to. I designed the cosplay on paper first, and adjusted it fit my capabilities and new vision along the way. When I wore it for the first time, it was so exciting to see people slowly recognize who I was. Even though I was not immediately recognizable, it was extra special when someone loved my original design.  

What was your first convention?

My first convention was Long Beach Comic-con. I mentioned it a bit in an earlier question how I did a quick cosplay of River Song for it, and how it kicked off my love of cosplaying. After seeing so many people’s amazing cosplays, I wanted to join in on the fun.

If you could do your dream cosplay? what would it be and why?

Hmm, my dream cosplay? It would probably be the Last Unicorn but a redesign version that is more fairytale like (I love unicorns and loved this movie growing up) or an armored version of Korra from Avatar the Legend of Korra (I technically did this already but I know I could do a better version now).

What got you into cosplaying?

I have always loved dressing up, and cosplay was the natural progression. When I was a kid, I actually was not allowed to celebrate Halloween so when I entered college I went crazy at Halloween. My friend and I would plan these elaborate costumes that we would make from crafts supplies and clothes from the thrift store, but man! We looked good!

Plus, I had reached the level of nerdom where it was time to start cosplaying, haha!

Do you sew or buy your costumes?

I pretty much make all my costumes now, but I did end up buying the bodysuit for my Sombra cosplay. However, when I first started I would buy clothing and alter it to fit my cosplay to the best of my ability. It was a struggle because I always felt like I couldn’t fully achieve my vision this way, and it really forced me to learn how to sew and fabricate.

Any advice for poc cosplayers concerned about being outside their skin tone?

Just do it. I have cosplayed characters that were different races and skin tones, and while some people may trumpet only cosplaying a character that looks like you, I feel like that is complete and utter bullshit. If you love a character, cosplay that character! It was nerve wracking for me the first time I did it, but now I just keep pushing forward. There will be naysayers on the sidelines, but look at the positive comments and find pride in yourself.

Who are a few of your favorite cosplayers?

Oh gosh, there are so many. I really love arkadycosplay, toughtink, kixzune, cheyennejazwise, angiviper, hanecosplay, caleighallen, and theofficialariel. All of them are amazing at what they do, and really inspire me to keep going!

You can find more of Lauren on Instagram.

 Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Twitch Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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Nerdette Minute #44: Shopping Haul

Hey Gang!


 I went shopping with my cousin about a week ago, I hadn't seen her in a while and then when she had some free time, I jumped the chance to hang out with one of my favorite girls! Make sure you check out Brianna, an epic travel and lifestyle blogger in her own right. I was so excited to go shopping, it had been a while since I had gotten anything for myself, so I thought it would be the perfect time to do so. Here's what we got.
 We visited Torrid, Hot Topic, H+M, and Charlotte Russe. I got enough underwear for the next month and a half, but I didn't really feel comfortable showing you those, or the braletts that I got, so the massive shopping haul turned into more of a regular haul.
 I was pretty excited to have a haul to show you guys, like I said before its been a while since I've done some serious shopping. It also felt pretty good to be back in front of the camera again. I have quite a few ideas for my Youtube channel, so make sure that you watch, like and subscribe so you don't miss out!

 Whats your favorite place to shop? Let's talk about it on Twitter! Don't forget to Like + Subscribe!

 Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Twitch Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy, ~Spokhette!~

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