Links to the Past

• I know Christmas is over and whatnot, but if you missed it you absolutely must looks at EPBOT’s Harry Potter themed tree. HOLY. FRICK. Amazing. I want one to leave up year round.

• IGGPPC’s blog, +5 Charisma, published this article all about codebreaker Joan Clarke. Very cool to learn more about such an amazing woman, who played such a huge role in WWII codebreaking.

• Speaking of awesome women in wars, this 93 year old British secret agent is finally accepting recognition for her heroic acts during WWII. And by heroic acts, I mean such things as parachuting into Normandy in order to obtain information to use on D-Day. Seriously amazing stuff.

• 9 things I wish people understood about anxiety is an amazing article. While directed towards people who don’t suffer from it themselves, it is a wonderful, if a bit heartbreaking, read. As something that is so close to my heart lately, I highly recommend reading through it if you struggle with anxiety yourself, or if you know someone who does.

• Felicia Day wrote a book! Which you can learn a bit about and preorder. While she seems to fall into the ‘love her or hate her’ category, I have always admired Ms. Day. She never seems to be afraid to be herself, and that is something I really respect.

• Scrawny Girl had a great article about her first year as a small business owner. As someone who plans to open an online shop this year, it was great to read such an honest account of someones first year of having one.

Links to the Past

• This article shows some fabulous photographs from a Lithuanian photographer. They have such a mystical feel to them – love it!
• Litographs is a fabulous new (to me) website with fun literature related things. My personal favorites are the book t-shirts – check em out!
• Our Nerd Home has been showcasing some fantastic geek gifts in their new series – check out Part 1 and Part 2!
• An excellent article about 11 influential women in geek culture.
• One of my favorite blogs, Nerd In The Brain, has this fantastic post about happiness. I find it just perfectly said!

Totally forgot to scout for fanart this week, so until next time!

Links to the Past

With all the Thanksgiving festivities happening lately (my last feat is today – yum!), I feel like I was hardly on the computer this week! Therefore, only a couple of links for you this week. Enjoy!

• This mesmerizing video of an expert glass sculptor has been making it’s way around the internet, and it is amazing. Truly an expert of his craft.
• If you’ve had a child, or are thinking about it for the future at some point in your life, read this hysterical article about pooping during childbirth. It happens. And it’s not the end of the world.
• These baroque style superhero costumes are just stunning. My personal favorites are Catwoman and Wolverine.
• And lastly, in case you fell off the earth yesterday and missed it, here’s a link to the teaser for the new Star Wars!! I’m going to allow myself to be excited about it for now. I don’t yet think it’ll be good or bad, but I will be optimistic!

That’s all for this week! And now, some fanart to feast your eyes on.

DeviantArt user naturalshocks has such a stunning gallery of minimal white-on-black work. Jam packed with Sherlock art, each piece is always so lovely. Enjoy!

Links to the Past

I missed last week’s weekend posts so there’s a lot to catch up on this week! Enjoy!

• I can’t applaud this Texas town enough for what they did with an abandoned WalMart building. I wish all abandoned property had this happen!

• I need one of these Piggyback Riders STAT. It would make hiking trips with the little SO much easier, and she would love the view.

• Media for Misfits had this great post on different contemporary comic artists and their art.

• This article from the Frozen Moon about being an Anti-Mommy Mom sits near and dear to my heart. It’s long, but it covers the feeling that for her, being a mom isn’t enough – she has to be her own person too. I struggled with that (and the guilt that comes with it) around my daughter’s first birthday, and I can so relate to her post! A fave quote from it: “I want to BE a bigger picture, one where motherhood is just the part of the color scheme in the art of my life.” SO MUCH YES.

• Celebrity guests on Sesame Street rarely disappoint – Hello Giggles rounds up some of the best!

• Minor confession: I have been SUPER disappointed with the Final Fantasy games since FFXII. (I’ve never played FFX, so I can’t judge those). This article about why it’s okay to (possibly) be excited about FFXV, and pretty much describes my exact feelings on the subject of FF.

• Mirrors + trees = this amazing photography. Seriously, check this out.

• The new trailer for Insurgent is up and I am actually really disappointed. Maybe it’s because I am always cynical about book-to-movie adaptations, but this was just a disappointment. I feel like it’s entirely catered to 3D, doesn’t actually give any sense of the story, and as far as I can remember (though it’s been awhile), this ‘scene’ has NOTHING to do with the book. I know it’s a teaser trailer, but really? Grumble frumble. Your thoughts?

• One of my favorite YouTubers Mary Doodles has started a new series called How To Art! I know this may seem like a weird pick, as I consider myself pretty competent in the how-to-art department, but I love seeing other artists process and thoughts on the subject. I feel you can never have too much info on a subject you love. Part 1 and Part 2 are up, with more to come! I really like Part 1, and her thoughts on art in general.

• Lastly, what I feel is the most important link this week, is this post from KimiWho about boycotting Black Thursday. I feel Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate family and friends, and that’s IT. Definitely read her article, and share the graphic she provided!

And now, some spectacular Sailor Moon fan art.

AHHHHHHH! I am dying of joy over here. Art noveau is one of my favorite art styles, and this series by DA User eri-phyle is just spectacular!! Click her username to see her gallery, which has lots more individual Sailor Scout artwork.

Links To The Past

• Kristin of My Life As A Teacup shared this absolutely fabulous cover of ‘All About That Bass’ and I can’t get enough of it. The whole channel has some really interesting covers (I absolutely love hearing new takes on songs). The doo-wop cover of Ariana Grande’s ‘Problem’ is strange, but in a good way haha!
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyTTX6Wlf1Y
• Mariko of Gamerwife has started the #puttogetherproject on Instagram this month. It aims to raise awareness for mental health issues by taking pride in your appearance, and making an effort every day! This hits quite close to home for me lately, so definitely check out her post for the full scoop, and play along! I’m not committing to every day, but I definitely plan on making a donation to an organization at the end of the month as it is such a worthy cause.

• The Geeky Seamstress had a great post on sewing with Spandex for the first time. I’ve always been intimidated to try anything other than standard cotton and knits, and this was a great kickoff point for anyone looking to try it out!

• I love all things from Mystic Eye Creations (I have a custom acrylic pen and pencil, both of which I use on a daily basis, and I have a wooden pen too!) but lately these styluses have completely snagged my attention. Gorgeous, and useful. Christmas is coming and I definitely recommend checking out their product lines – they offer so many different things, and they are gorgeous, high quality, one of a kind pieces! Shop indie!

• AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is being released for the 3DS!!! I am SO EXCITED. I feel this game is highly underrated – it has an amazing story and is what I consider the most challenging Zelda game I’ve played. I can’t wait to get it, and I will absolutely be getting the big special edition box with all the swag. Drooooool.

• Artist Austin Light is doing amazing things with illustration and movie titles. Definitely check it out; it’s hilarious.

• Jess of Bookworms In Dresses shared this fantastic cat furniture article. I want them all!! If I were rich and an interior designer, I would incorporate so many of these into my house. My favorites being the Cat Burger and the cat friendly bookshelf (which are actually possibilities for real life!).

• Erin of Sugar Crumbs shared nine Thanksgiving side dish recipes and they had me drooling. Espeically the Crispy Potato Roast (#4) and The Slow Cooker Cream Corn (#7). Om nom nom.

No fanart this week. I think I’m going to expand and have it include ANY video game art, not just Zelda. Which means I have lots of possibilities to choose from! They’ll be something next week for sure!

Links To The Past

• Sometimes you just need a good laugh, and this list from BuzzFeed provides it. I lost it at the sea flapflaps. Enjoy!

• Although I’m sure you’ve already heard all about it, I am still pretty pumped about Marvel’s latest announcements. Most notably the next Captain America and Captain Marvel!

• This article about a grandmother who may have been poisoning her loved ones is quite long, but I found it fascinating.

• While the tone of this article about frivolous crushes is a bit cynical, I really enjoy the writing and how the subject is laid out. I feel there is such a huge difference difference between real love and the ooey gooey lovey feeling you get when you first meet someone, and this article only reinforces that.

• In case you missed it, I was over at Sincerely, Sara this week taking part in her Books & Looks series! While I’m not too comfortable in front of the camera, I actually had a lot of fun doing the shoot with my BFF!

• I don’t consider myself religious in any way, so I don’t often pay attention to the happening of the Pope, but hearing that he declared the Big Bang and Evolution real things that happened had me turning my head. From what I can tell based on other readings as well, Pope Francis seems alright in my book!

• Things like Google X’s latest project have me both super excited and super terrified about the technology of the future.

• Being from New England, I do have to apologize for Boston producing all the crappiest Halloween candy. Sorry about that.

• Lydia of The Beauty Glitch had a great post featuring three excellent short films! Love the animation in them, and even though Halloween was yesterday, I still recommend giving them a look-see.

• I’m always a fan of Ingrid Michaelson, but I am especially loving her newest video, ‘Afterlife’.

I’m a big fan of mashups, and this Portals/Zelda is fabulous. I love the Triforce on the side of the gun! Click the pic to see the rest of The Hookshot’s portfolio on RedBubble!

Links to the Past

• If I woke up to find this on my garage, it’d be time to move.

• I can’t decide if I like these underwater maternity photos or not. From a technical aspect, really cool. But I’m just not sure I actually like the end result photos. Thoughts?

• Comics Alliance posted this nifty infographic chronicling the release schedule of superhero movies through 2020 (and beyond!). So many movies, and some of them have me asking, why?

• Jennifer Garner called out sexism in Hollywood in a recent interview. I feel like this is an issue that our celebrity obsessed culture often overlooks, and that is so unfortunate!

• Lindsey Stirling released a new video and I really like it! I’m always a fan of her music, but often I find her videos just a tad over the top for my liking. However in this case, both the music and the video are awesome!

• My hubs is a great dad, but he may have just been trumped for Dad of the Year.  If you don’t read the whole article, at least read the last paragraph. That’s a giant parenting WIN.

And now, some Zelda fanart.

Artwork by Jinny Liang – so great!

Links to the Past

• I am in love with this Christmas stocking holder from Etsy shop Mom With A Saw. And in a more relevant holiday, this kitty set would be perfect for Halloween!

• As someone who loves to thrift shop, I am really liking this new-to-me website Twice. It’s the beauty of thrift shopping without ever having to leave my house, or sort through endless racks! Perfect. My first purchase was a skirt, which I love! I’ll be shopping again for sure.

• As an introvert, being pregnant was unbearable sometimes with so many people thinking pregnancy entitles them to invade a woman’s personal space and make remarks about their body. This article explains just how wrong that is, and also helpful things you can say to a pregnant woman. (Hint: It’s NOT, “Are you having twins?!”….)

• Jess over at Bookworms in Dresses shared this fabulous list of adjectives to spice up your vocabulary. I love words, and especially learning new words! A few of my favorites from this list: heuristic, jejune, and sagacious.

• Katie from Punk Projects just posted an amazing resource for tutorials/tips on using Copic markers! I’m so excited for this, as Copics are at the top of my list to try out!

• I want ALL the Sailor Moon jewelry from Etsy shop Starlight Deco Dream! Especially this one. And this one. And this one.

• And lastly, every Johnny Depp character in one cosplay = best cosplay ever. Just fantastic.

I know I usually post some Zelda fanart at the end, but seriously I just can’t get over the above cosplay so that will have to suffice!

Links to the Past

• I don’t often post parenting articles, but this is such a great one dealing with vaccinations. I hear so much negativity towards vaccinations, and it really makes me sad for the kids that it affects. Vaccinations save lives, period. This quote from the article is one of my favorites, “If you think your child’s immune system is strong enough to fight off vaccine-preventable diseases, then it’s strong enough to fight off the tiny amounts of dead or weakened pathogens present in any of the vaccines.” Logic, people, logic.

• Although I love to edit my DSLR photos in Lightroom, I haven’t really delved into the world of editing my pics on my phone. My Life As A Teacup had a really handy post all about photo editing apps. I am definitely going to check a few out (TimerCam especially just seems so helpful!).

• This post about how to support bloggers you love is so great! It includes so many (non-monetary) things that I love about the blogging community, and some great ideas I had never thought of. (I think I originally saw this on My Life As A Teacup as well, but I forgot to mark where I first saw it!)

• Comxiology is a new to me website that has made my heart so incredibly happy. As someone without a comic shop nearby, I love that I can log on for all the latest releases, and purchases comics in ebook form as well! Plus, they have a coordinating app so I can read any digital comics I buy on my phone or tablet. Loving it! I have so many comics to read now.

• I’m pretty sure all of you know about this, but I’m linking again anyway! The 5 Fandom Friday link up hosted by The Nerdy Girlie and SuperSpaceChick has been so much fun so far! Join in on the fun!

• This image amused me. I’m so glad other people think the way I do.

And now, your weekly dose of Zelda fanart.

Pretty much the creme de la creme of Dark Link cosplays. This is actually from many years ago, but it’s one of my faves. His DA page (click the pic!) has more photos that include the Hylian Shield and Master Sword and they are so great! Also, he has one with a different hairstyle (I think it’s his actual hair in the others, as opposed to a wig like here) and it works so well!

Links to the Past

• Jess from Bookworms and Dresses posted this personality test and it is really cool! I loved learning about my type, which fits me to a tee (tea? T? What kind of t-word goes here?!?!?) and it was equally fun to learn about the other personality varieties. I am an INFJ type, which is apparently rare (according to their site, less than 1% of the population!). The basic description is, “Quiet and mystical, yet very inspiring and tireless idealists”. What type are you?

• Megan from The Nerdy Girlie designed these fabulous t-shirts! I love how many styles they come in – definitely added to my Christmas list!

• One of my favorite YouTubers (and you know, a fabulous artist!), Mary Doodles posted this Alice In Wonderland vid. I just love all her stuff. I highly recommend looking at her 21 Darth Vaders video – so great!

 

• Jessica from The Pyreflies had a great post about photo backgrounds. I always try and take nice pictures, but I’d never really put too much thought into the background; it’s usually just my table or desk! I’ll definitely be trying to switch it up.

• While I don’t have an iPhone (nothing against them, it’s a money thing for me and when I got a smartphone I went for the cheapest option!) I am soooo envious of the camera for the iPhone 6. Especially in comparison to all the previous iPhones.

This week’s fanart features the big ole baddie from the Legend of Zelda series – Ganondorf! I love the lighting in this piece – so well done.

Brought to you by Deviant-artist d-torres.