F.A.C.T.S. 2016!

Oh my glob, it's that time of year again!

The blog has been pretty quiet lately, but I just have to upload my F.A.C.T.S. pictures like I do every year! I had a blast, as always. The venue was organised differently this time, so that makes it hard to compare this edition with others, but overall it was great. My boyfriend and I went as a duo from Adventure Time: Finn and Lumpy Space Princess. I made the costumes with Elvi's help, who is a lot better at DIY stuff than I am. Thank you Elvi!! For the Finn costume, my boyfriend already had most of the clothes he needed. He bought a foam sword from Flying Tiger Copenhagen for just 2 euros, and his hat was made out of a second hand ski coat that we bought for 1 euro. If you want to know how to make your own awesome Finn hat, check out THIS very helpful tutorial! My costume was a little more complicated, but still very doable for a beginner. I also used a second hand ski coat (1 euro again, aw yeah) for the base of my costume, and then added tule to it. If you want to see how we made it, check out the whole process HERE! The star is made from cardboard with fabric glued to it, and the rest of the outfit (clothes, shoes, makeup, nail polish) I already had. Tadaa!

When we arrived, we got ourselves a Finn and a Jake plush, which we carried around all day. We saw a lot of cool costumes today! I always love watching other people's cosplays. There were a lot (A LOT) of Harley and Joker cosplays, and as always there were quite some Elsa's as well. It was strange to see how few Daenerys and Lord of the Rings cosplays there were, considering how popular they used to be. The only really cool Lord of the Rings cosplay we saw was a person dressed up as a very impressive Sauron, followed by the Nazgûl. Awesome. Sean Astin was there today, so I had expected to see more hobbits! We were able to see Sean Astin quite well while he was signing autographs, and he looked super nice. He was wearing an adorable hat, which made him look super British! We were also able to see Nicholas Brendon really well. Being a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, I was super excited about this! 

Some best-of moments (not in order, because I can't put these wonderful things in order):

1. Our super cute photo shoot on the (new) Millennium Falcon

Yeah, that's some true love right there.

2. Running into someone dressed as BMO, which I was really hoping for

3. Meeting up with my BFF Nele, dressed as Kida from Atlantis: The Lost Empire (holding soda for some reason) 

4. Taking a picture with Rey and Kylo Ren (who I was kind of scared of) 

5. R2 BUILDERS!! They are always so cool.

6. Getting my boyfriends foam sword checked at the weapon check #becauseitlooksdangerous

As you can see, we had a great time! We also enjoyed watching a drone race and a robot battle, which we hadn't done before. Last but not least: I bought a bear onesie which I love sooo much! I've wanted a onesie for so many years already, and now I finally have one! I was kind of frozen when we got home, so getting into this amazing fluffy suit and having some pizza was... well, you know how life can be good sometimes. Today it was great. 

Stay geeky my friends!

Jade (LSP)

D.I.Y. Lumpy Space Princess costume

Hi everyone!

It's convention time again here in Belgium, and this year I wanted to go as Lumpy Space Princess from Adventure Time! Since I always get a lot of help from other people's tutorials when working on a DIY project, I thought I'd share the making-of process here! Like many people, I love cosplay but I'm not a great sewer. Sewer? Ew. Is there another word for this? Sewing person? One that sews? Anyway, most people would go to an auntie of a grandmother for help. Me? I have my fairy godmother: Elvi. 

For the base of the costume, we used a second hand ski coat. I liked how 'lumpy' it already was, and found it for just 1 euro. However, any base will do. A tight dress would be perfect. 

We cut part of it off, because it was kind of long. Just your regular cutting and sewing up again process. 

After seeing some other amazing LSP cosplays and some loofah costume tutorials I decided I wanted to work with tule to make the lumps. I ordered some online, which was the cheapest option. I cut the tule in pieces, which I then folded three times so it was layered. Elvi then tied some thread around the middle of each piece, so you got ribbons. 

Then, once we had our pile of tule ribbons, I started patiently sewing each ribbon on by hand. Elvi pinned them onto the coat while I was wearing it, and tried to spread them out so that the coat would be decently covered. Afterwards, I sewed them on while we ate fries and watched some Jane the Virgin. The tule hangs really flat at first, so you have to lump it up a bit by going through it with your fingers. You can also use safety pins to keep some important pieces in place. Also, I curled some tule around the collar, so my neck would be covered in tule.

And then it was finished! It's not too hard, it's pretty cheap and it looks adorable! I also made a star, which I cut out of a cardboard pizza box. I then used some needle and thread to attach it to a hair tie, and glued some yellow fabric to it (which I got from a second hand top, also 1 euro). I put my hair up in a high bun and simply tied the hair tie around it. I applied purple eye shadow to my eyelids and cheeks and wore purple lipstick. In my ears I wore pink crown earrings, because let's face it, I'm a princess. Add some purple nail polish, purple leggings and pink shoes to that and you're done! 

My boyfriend went as Finn. Clothes-wise this was a pretty simple cosplay because he already had everything he needed. All we had to do was make a Finn hat, which we did using another 1 euro second hand ski coat. We used this tutorial, which worked perfectly! 

Darn did we look cute! If you want to read about our day at F.A.C.T.S. and see more pictures, click HERE! 

Much love,

Jade

Casting Han Solo

Hi everyone!

So after seeing The Force Awakens three times in the cinema, we start fantasising about the next films. Obviously, we want to know how the story continues in Episode VIII, but that won't happen until may 2018 (about 500 days from today). However! We will be seeing the first anthology film Rogue One this year, and after that we'll be treated with a movie that focuses on a young Han Solo.

Now, finding a young actor worthy to fill mister Ford's shoes is not an easy task. A lot of actors have been auditioning for the part, but it seems like no one has been cast so far. In comes Anthony Ingruber! He is just a normal guy who does impressions on youtube. A while ago, he did this Han Solo impression and holy cow he is Han Solo! He even looks like him and has the acting skills! How cool would it be if they cast him?

You can actually sign the petition here. It's still very small, but who knows?

I support this!
Love,
Jade

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I had hardly slept the night before because I was so excited, had to go to classes all day and couldn't pay attention at all, and felt like I was in some kind of fantasy bubble when I finally got to the movie theatre yesterday. We got our popcorn, put our 3D glasses on, and then... silence...

BWAAAM enter John Williams' music and STAR WARS in those big yellow letters we all love. It was an amazing moment, to see something this iconic and treasured on the big screen in 3D. Seriously, I urge everyone to go see this movie in the cinema! It's worth it. It'll awaken a force inside you that will make you laugh and cry, and make you feel like your heart stopped yet at the same time it's going faster than ever. 

I would write my own review, but other reviews sum it all up so perfectly. This review from Wired is really worth reading (AFTER seeing the film, contains spoilers!!). I'll just sum up my first thoughts about the movie (spoiler-free!) by inserting quotes from the Wired review between my own:

The Force Awakens might have been the best Star Wars film ever, if it wasn't so devoted to being exactly what we want it to be.

All this is understandable. This is the Star Wars we all expected, and in many ways it is the Star Wars that is needed right now. It lays the groundwork for the many, many new films and spin-offs to come. 

This episode is a mixture of old and new, and to some people maybe a little bit too much like episode IV. But, I think it was necessary as well as exactly what the fans have been asking for. Lessons were learned from the prequel trilogy, we have finally returned to what makes Star Wars Star Wars. To me, Episode VII feels like a bridge between episode VI and VIII which was just very much needed. And let's be honest: it's not like us Star Wars fans mind seeing our favourite characters again! 

Rey, Finn and Kylo Ren are easily the best characters ever introduced in a Star Wars film, and bring a surge of energy and chemistry that even the original trilogy never had. 

Setting 'the old' aside for a moment, let's talk about 'the new'. It's good. It's better than good. The new characters are all entirely unique and very refreshing. Most of the characters are young and energetic and played by really good actors, which seems like something obvious and normal for such a big movie, but as we've seen in the prequels: it isn't. Rey and Finn have great chemistry together, BB8 is sassy and cute and Kylo Ren is an amazing villain. 

There's Kylo Ren, a villain overflowing with emotion and rage and yet more human than any Star Wars bad guys to date. 

The characters are unpolished and raw, human and imperfect, which makes them incredibly relatable. Also, I am totally in love with Maz Kanata, who is a perfect example of how CGI can be absolutely wonderful. This episode is the perfect match between old and new, alien costumes and CGI, real-life sets and greenscreens, good and evil... most of all: it's Star Wars again.

I won't write any more because I don't want to spoil it for you! Please just take my advice, get your geeky hands on tickets in a theatre near you and go watch it in it's full glory. Enjoy, and may the force be with you.

Love,

Jade

F.A.C.T.S. 2015

Wowza hello it's been a while how are you?

So, we haven't been posting for a while, but I just had to share this with you peeps!

This past weekend, the 25th edition of the Belgian F.A.C.T.S. convention was held. It's one of my favourite days of the year! Me and my boyfriend cosplayed Fry and Leela from Futurama. It was so silly. I was going as a Rebel from Star Wars and my boyfriend as Fry. Then (totally not because of F.A.C.T.S.) I dyed my hair purple. And the day before we went, my boyfriend said "Wait... Why don't you just go as Leela now that your hair is purple?" and I was like "Omg how could I not have though of this before??" We were kind of on a budget and had to improvise something easy, which I think turned out quite well. We heard some people saying "Leela!" and things like "Shut up and take my money!" which is always fun. Also, it was my birthday and I have been eating SO MUCH candy. Maybe it's for the best I didn't go as Leeloo again! :D As always, there were lots of amazing cosplayers and the general atmosphere was great. It's incredible how fast it is growing though. This year, more than 50.000 people attended. I really think they'll have to find a bigger location for next year! I also saw some great actors! First of all we met with Alfie Allen, and he is really handsome. Everyone I tell is like "Eww that's gross" which I don't get. Yes, he is creepy on Game of Thrones, but he has taken a bath since filming those episodes you know. He seemed super sweet, but kind of exhausted. Seriously, they should have better air-conditioning during photo shoots and signing sessions. Poor thing. Handsome thing. We also saw Peter Mayhew. My mom asked me how we could possibly know what Chewbacca actually looked like, and we both just went: "Uhm, duh, everyone knows!" He's such an iconic person and it was super cool to see him in real life! We also caught a glimpse of John Rhys-Davies, which was also awesome. Unfortunately, the doc (Christopher Lloyd) and Summer Glau (Firefly!!) were hardly there. The flyer said they'd be signing almost all day, but every time we went to look, they weren't there and we didn't feel like waiting amongst the big crowds.

As far as extra's were concerned, I felt like they recycled a lot of last year's stuff. Maybe they are waiting to get new things for next year, because then The Force Awakens will have been released. I sure hope so! As long as the R2-Builders are there, I am a very happy me.

Here are some pictures that we took!

First, I made this cyclops eye in the nearby Ikea. Because, why not in Ikea?

Then, over the parking lot we go. Totally enjoying my new hair colour in the sun btw. :)

Force Awakens! Rey! Speeder! Omg!

R2-Builders with a BB8. Aw yiss...

Hello mr. Bounty Hunter.

Assassins's Creed preview: yay!

I love it when the make the Artoo units communicate with you. It's so real!

Time for some meditation with mrs. Twi'lek here.

Fry and Leela <3

I got this purse a while back. Normally, it has a picture of Laika in it, but I changed it to Nibbler for the occasion.

Alfie!

And then enjoying my hair some more on the way home. Purple grey all the way!

Did you go to F.A.C.T.S.?
See you next year!

✎ Jade

ps: here is my f.a.c.t.s. post from 2013's edition and here is a post about last year! 

Star Wars day!

Hi everyone! 

Well, monday was Star Wars day and BOY it was impossible to not know it, right? I mean, two years ago it was a still rather unheard of (in this country, anyway), last year it became more popular and now all of a sudden everyone is obsessed with it? I mean, even Greenpeace and Ellen Degeneres were all over it! Maybe it's just me. Maybe I just didn't notice it the past couple of years. But I think it's safe to say that being geeky is super hip nowadays, right? Well, I don't mind! 

With The Force Awakens coming up, this year's Star Wars day was extra special. My boyfriend said to me: "Just imagine. Next year we'll be celebrating by watching The Force Awakens again!" That's so cool!! Since we were both super tired from working on our theses, we actually fell asleep watching episode III. But I woke up during the epic fight between Yoda and Sheev (yes, that is what we should call him, because it is an awesome, yet at the same time hilarious name). So, I guess I didn't miss out on the best parts? ;-) 

I also had some fun playing around with makeup and jewels, Queen Amidala style. I love how the makeup loses it's symmetry as soon as I smile. So THAT's why Amidala never smiles! 

I hope you all had a lovely Star Wars day. Let's keep counting down, episode VII we are so ready for you!! May the fourth be with you! 

Jedi Jade

Yoga Challenge

Hi!

21 days ago, my favourite yoga teacher Erin Motz started another instagram challenge. The idea was, that we'd learn/practise an intense yoga pose daily, to become -as they say- 'summer ready'. Honestly, it's not that much about my summer bikini booty as it is about my actual health. I've been seeing my physical therapist a lot lately, and am really working on training my muscles. Also, I'm going to start running soon, I'll keep you up to date! Maybe we can start to run together and motivate each other? So anyway, I did this challenge for 21 days and I really enjoyed it! It's great when someone (in my case, my sweetest boyfriend) can take pictures of you doing yoga, because you really learn a lot from it. Sometimes I think I've got a pose all figured out, when really, I don't. It's only after having looked at the picture, that I realise my back isn't as straight as I thought it was. So you can really use challenges like this to refine your poses. And of course, try out new poses that you never knew existed! 

Another great thing about this challenge is getting in touch with other yogis. Everyone is prompted to add the hashtag #badyogi to their posts, and so when you look up the hashtag, you get this huge amount of photos of people all around the world who are doing the exact same pose as you are. And they are not extremely fit models who can do a handstand on their pinky finger with their legs twisted like pretzels. Nope, just people like you and me, doing yoga in front of the TV, or in the backyard. And seeing them is so motivating!  

I was fortunate enough to go to the beach for a week, which was awesome! I love doing yoga at the beach. Especially the creepy stuff like headstands. I'm still figuring those out, but once I got onto the soft and safe sand, I wasn't at all scared to try them! I also love looking at the vast sea, and the endless horizon. So peaceful. 

And also, the weather! It has been amazing! Aside from the fact that good weather is always awesome, it was extra awesome because I could do my yoga challenge outside almost every day. And I love doing yoga out in the fresh air! 

So... That's pretty much it! If you missed the challenge and feel like trying out some yoga poses, here are my instagram pictures (including some extra pictures of me doing headstands and sundials)! Enjoy! 

✎ Jade