#5FandomFriday: Make-Up Friday - 5 Gateway Fandoms

5 Fandom Friday is a weekly prompt challenge hosted by The Nerdy Girlie and Super Space Chick. I got really excited when I saw this week's #5FandomFriday topic - Make-Up Friday! I decided to do the first-ever #5FF prompt, "Gateway Fandoms that Made Me Who I Am Today." Let's do this!

Fairies - The first oddbeat thing I can remember being obsessed with is fairies; when I was a kid I had a set of books that were hand-me-downs from my cousin and the one for beginning readers had a whole section of poems about fairies and pixies and such. Two of my favorite movies were Thumbelina and Fern Gully and my favorite book was Lynne Reid Banks' The Fairy Rebel. My best friend and I made up an elaborate game for our classmates around the premise that there were fairies living in the woods beside our school playground and a series of tasks had to be completed to save them - basically, at the age of eight I was already a fantasy writer in training. Unfortunately, our ongoing story came to an end when we came back to school one Monday and the tree where the fairies lived had been struck by lightning overnight.

Titanic - It sounds strange to call a tragic historical disaster a fandom, but hear me out! In December 1997, my friend's parents dropped us off at a G-rated move so they could see Titanic. After about 15 minutes of Flubber or something, my friend and I were in the back row of Titanic feeling like the baddest 12-year-old chicks in town. We were found out when her parents found us sobbing as the credits rolled. I became obsessed not only with Leonardo Di Caprio (you'll always be my first love, Leo), but with the ship, its wreckage, and explorer Robert Ballard. I was so psyched to find out my sister-in-law shares my love of all things Titanic - we went to see the movie together when it was released in 3D, and she and I forced our family to endure the Titanic Museum Exhibition on our vacation to Tennessee.

Arthurian Legend/Medieval Everything - My mom can attest that medieval lore was one of my first fandoms; when I was three and four all I wanted to draw was castles. When I was in eighth grade, two things led to my medieval obsession: the TV movie Merlin and Brian Jacques' Redwall books (I can thank my local librarian for that literary gateway drug). In the early days of AOL, I stumbled upon a chat-based RPG about a castle, and started writing stories a character named Duchess Isabella (my name from Spanish class, super creative obviously) who was basically a Mary Sue version of Morgan Le Fay who used dark magic to save unicorns and such. I'm sure our stories were horrible, but I had found a community of people who loved the thing I loved, and 5 years later I'd be studying Edmund Spenser and Geoffery Chaucer in college. My trip to Ireland to study literature was a dream come true because I got to see actual medieval things, real ruins of castles and The Book of Kells, and I'm still obsessed with all things medieval.

Star Wars - I resisted Star Wars - when I was a kiddo, my dad kept trying to convince me to watch the trilogy via his battered set of VHS tapes and I refused every time because it was a "boy movie" (there were no horses, so he couldn't trick me into watching it the way he did his favorite Westerns). When I saw some of the cool guys in my class playing with Star Wars action figures, one of which was shaped like AN ADORABLE BEAR, I was like, okay, Dad, let's do this thing. The next three weekends held probably three of the most significant Friday nights of my life! With the release of The Phantom Menace in 1999, my gang of online medieval writing geeks realized we all loved Star Wars and AOL created a spin-off universe for us to play in. I created a science fiction character that I still love and write about. This year, watching The Force Awakens, I couldn't help but feel like my dad was there with me.

Harry Potter - The fandom that is closest to my heart. My first year of college, I made one of my best friends in the whole world through our mutual love of Harry Potter. Not only is it practically my religion, HP has made being a geek cool. This week, when one of my coworkers recommended a book to me and another teacher said, "Is there a wand in it?" I am definitely the resident genre fiction expert on the eighth grade English hallway and I love nurturing my baby geeks by putting Harry Potter, Redwall, Ender's Game, and comic books into their hands.

What were your first fandoms and obsessions?

Oscars 2016: Favorite Trends

This year's Oscar red carpet was a true reflection of current fashion trends, with several of Pantone's colors of the year for 2016 seen on leading ladies - and gentlemen. After SO MUCH TAUPE last year, it was refreshing to see lovely jewel tones dominating the fashion coverage. Here are some of the major color trends that went from the runway to the red carpet. For image sources, check out my Pinterest board (and pin from there rather than from this post, please!)

Best Dressed

Soft colors will always win me over (like Anna Kendrick's simple coral halter dress from last year), and this year I was infatuated with Cate Blanchett's gown in a color Pantone calls Limpet Shell. The appliques make it similar to the dress she wore to the 2014 awards, which makes sense - both are Armani Prive and make her look like a princess. The shape is so flattering on her and the color is gorgeous on her.

Blue Violet

My favorite colors made a big impact on the red carpet this year - Best Actress winner Brie Larsen wore a ruffled dress with a camisole neckline, and Mindy Kaling's black sheath dress featured a blue violet train that was really unique and lovely.

Naomi Watts and Tina Fey both rocked purple on the red carpet. I think this is the most elegant I've ever seen Tina looked and I liked how both leading ladies paired their strapless dresses with statement necklaces.

Trendy Taupe

This shade of cerulean has been dubbed Snorkel Blue and was spotted on both ladies and gentlemen at this year's Oscars. Both Sofia Vergara and Patricia Arquette chose flattering shapes in this color that looks beautiful on every complexion.

I have gone on record in totally loving dudes in blue tuxes (see Jason Sudeikis in 2014 and Eddie Redmayne last year). Among the handsome gentlemen wearing Snorkel Blue with black were Aaron Rodgers (escorting girlfriend Olivia Munn) and Best Actor nominee Mark Ruffalo. Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl and Michael Strahan also wore this color on the red carpet.

Classic Black

A black gown is always appropriate for Oscar night, and Jennifer Garner's was one of my absolute favorite looks of the night - so elegant. I also liked Julianne Moore's gown with geometric accents.

White Florals

Isla Fischer and Priyanka Chopra would both look great wearing paper bags, but look so lovely in white dresses with floral motifs. Isla's dress features romantic chiffon, while Priyanka's was figure-hugging, sheer, and J. Lo-worthy.

Marsala Shades

Variations of 2015's Pantone Color of the Year are still very popular at Hollywood events. I loved television host Zuri Hall's form-fitting gown and unique necklace, and Chrissy Teigen continues to be the most fabulous pregnant person probably ever.

Copper and champagne were the trendy metallic shades at last year's Oscars, but this year the pendulum swung back to classic silver and gold. Margot Robie clearly loves 70's-inspired dresses with plunging necklines and tassel details - her look this year hit many of the same notes as the black dress she wore last year. Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Daisy Ridley wore a silver tea-length sheath that was elegant and youthful.

What were your favorite looks at this year's Oscars?

this week's clicks: i'm a fool for love...

get your week off to a colorful start...
LISTEN.

• Lord Huron's "Fool for Love" is giving me serious Bruce Springsteen meets zen garden vibes... very unique and cool!

SWOON.

Katie Mitchell Photography via Bridal Musings

• A stylish Paris engagement shoot from Bridal Musings.
• At Domino, a DC designer's vintage-meets-modern home.
• Sweet DIY Zodiac pinatas from The House that Lars Built.
• A dreamy, romantic wedding in Bali from Snippet + Ink.

SMILE.

• Desktops: Paper Leaf, Red Stamp, Sarah Hearts, Smashing.
• Better Homes and Gardens' fresh color palette for 2016.
• Looking forward to Melissa's Love Your Home Challenge.
• Lia Griffith designed the perfect card for 2016 birthdays.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I rounded up my favorite custard yellow picks for spring, reviewed Christa Parrish's Still Life, featured my spring Instagram faves,
• Two years ago, I shared a blast from my high school past and my March favorites.
• From three years ago, a Sunday Social about the 5's and emerald wardrobe inspiration.
• Four years ago, I rounded up my #FebPhotoADay pics, made chocolate marshmallow cupcakes and shared ideas for soft gray and blue home decor.
• Five years ago, I recapped my wedding planning thrift store adventures, and chose our bridesmaids' dresses.

sunday simplicity.

The De Jaureguis via Style Me Pretty

“I was made and meant to look for you and 

wait for you and become yours forever.” 

― Robert Browning

2016 Reader Survey Reflection

At the beginning of the month, I was inspired to create a reader survey to get to know you better and learn more about which blog content you enjoy, what content you're not feeling anymore, and what you want to see more of in the future. Thank you so much to everyone who responded to the survey!

#5FandomFriday: What's In My Purse

5 Fandom Friday is a weekly prompt challenge hosted by The Nerdy Girlie and Super Space Chick. This week's #5FandomFriday topic is "What's In My Purse." Sadly, I don't have anything really geeky that I carry around (though I always seem to have a puzzle or some sort of squishy ball that I keep on hand for especially distracted students, and this week it's a Rubik's Cube!). Here are the 5 items I legally shouldn't be allowed to leave the house without.

1. Portable planner - I've recently gotten fascinated the world of bullet journaling and planner decorating thanks to Tumblr and Pinterest, and hope to start a fancy new journal soon, but in my own life I'm still using 2 premade planners: a big one that stays open on my desk at school, and this purse-sized version that matches perfectly, used to keep track of blog stuff and appointments. They are made by a company called Blue Sky and I always find them at Wal-Mart during back-to-school season (As a teacher, I operate on an August-July calendar).

2. Wallet - I feel like the switch from a Vera Bradley change purse to a big ol' checkbook-sized wallet was a sign of adulthood. I have three wallets this size that also make good night-out clutches in a pinch. This one is Jessica Simpson from TJ Maxx and holds Very Important Things like my library card.

3. SNACK! - Since I found out I was pre-diabetic, I've been trying to eat small meals throughout the day instead of three big meals. If I don't eat a snack during my planning period work and again between lunch and dinner, I become HANGRY.

4. Anxiety meds - Just being totally honest here. Thank you, anxiety meds, for helping me get my life back on track. I don't need you very often anymore, but I like knowing you are there.

5. Sunglasses - I'm a wimp who can't stand the idea of poking my eyes every day to put in contacts, so I have to switch glasses every time I go from indoors to outdoors. Since I have to wear sunglasses for driving and outdoor activities, I make sure mine are cute but also classic enough to be in style for several years since prescription lenses are expensive. My current pair are Ray-Bans called "Jackie Ohh" and I love that the color of the frames fades from brown to purple.

Pinspiration: Cozy Romantic Style

What I'm loving right now...

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literary junkies - february 2016

Here are this month's questions:

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.

I just finished the Welcome to Night Vale novel by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. I'd listened to a few episodes of the podcast a while back after seeing some of Celeste's doodles inspired by the show and wondering who Cecil and Carlos were and why Tumblr was so obsessed with them! I didn't get obsessed with it, but I appreciated the weird, Lovecraftian surrealism - probably my favorite Night Vale offshoot is their Twitter account, actually. I didn't know about the book until a few of my fellow Female Geek Bloggers mentioned it, and then saw it under my library's new eBook releases. Just as the podcast took me a few episodes to appreciate, it took me a few chapters to get into the book, which focuses on two mysteriously connected characters, perpetually 19-year-old pawn shop owner Jackie and single mom (to a shapeshifting teenage boy) Diane. They live in the utterly weird desert town "where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep." The book's mystery begins when a bland-looking man in a tan jacket gives Jackie a piece of paper she can't put down, and a similarly forgettable man goes missing from Diane's office (Evan? Ethan? Everett? What was that guy's name again?). The trouble with living in Night Vale is knowing when something weird is actually weird enough to be worried about.

2. Have you ever read a book that made you want to immediately travel to that destination?

Nothing comes to mind automatically, but in college I desperately wanted to move to New York and I think it was because I was reading large quantities of "chick lit," like The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, where the main characters were usually in low-level publishing jobs in the city.

3. What is your ideal reading spot? (Ex. Reading nook in a library, in bed, in a hammock on the beach, etc)

I guess I should say my zebra chair in my classroom, because I love reading to my kiddos every chance I get, but I can't lie, my end of the sofa is indented lower than Mr. Q's because it's the perfect cozy spot to read, usually early in the morning or late at night. However, my all-time favorite reading spot anywhere in the world is the McGregor Room in Alderman Library at UVa - the closest I'll ever get to the Gryffindor Common Room. I also spent a lot of time lying on the grass with a book in the Ampitheatre on sunny days when I was in college. As a tween reader, it was this spot at my local public library.

4. If you wrote a memoir, what would the title be?

I can't even think of a new name for this blog, but I think my memoir would need to be called 30 Going on 13 because teaching middle school is the biggest part of my life, I love puns, and my students are my heart and soul (and best source of funny stories and quotes like, "School food is for hobos.")

5. One of our great literary giants has recently passed, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee. Did you read the book? Thoughts/opinions. What about Go Set a Watchman? 

I have a cat named Scout; what do you think? TKAM was required reading in 10th grade advanced English at my school, and even though most of my classmates were overwhelmed by the length and serious subject matter, I got hooked (it helped that my mom had already shown me the movie!). I can still remember my teacher describing it as a "perfect book" and explaining that she meant that there wasn't a single word or phrase in the novel that didn't need to be there. Since then, I've always tried to remember that good writing should be succinct. I did read Go Set a Watchman, and while I wasn't blown away by it in a literary sense I could really relate to Scout's struggle - when you grow up, how do you continue to love your family members once you see that they are flawed?

What have you been reading lately? Come link up with us at 

Pink Heels Pink Truck and Life with a Side of Coffee!