Recent Posts

Entertaining

Uplifting, Energetic Songs For Your Summer

There’s been a trend of songs coming out that uplift the listener. Some are slow and sweet, and some just want you to stand up, do a high kick, and start dancing. (Or maybe that’s just me.) This post is dedicated to the latter. These are some of the songs and music videos that have been making me smile, start to dance, and just generally feel great about myself and life.

It’s sunny, it’s the summer, it’s a Friday…turn up your volume and have an impromptu dance break with me!

All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor

This song is so so catchy and fun, and the video in all of its pastel glory just makes me smile. Some people see this video as shaming some body types to make others feel better, but I don’t see that. She’s just saying that if someone doesn’t like her as she is, they can move along. Be proud of your body shape, no matter what it is, and get up and dance! Remember: “Every inch of you is perfect, from the bottom to the top!”

Tacky – Weird Al

We all have tacky moments. Why live in embarrassment when you could celebrate them? I challenge you to put this video on and mimic the comedians’ dance moves. You’ll feel awesome, look a bit tacky, and overall have a great time.

Shake it Out – Florence + The Machine

You know those days where you’re just in a funk and keep thinking about past mistakes and regrets? This song will help you shake those thoughts out and move on, in a better mood. I find it works even better if you sing along loudly to the chorus!

Gonna Get Over You – Sara Bareilles

Just got dumped? Fired? This video tells you it’s ok to not feel 100% happy right away, but in an uplifting and ridiculously adorable way.

Marvelous – Adam WarRock

Try not to feel marvelous after this song is over. There’s not a video for this one, but you don’t need anything extra distracting you from the great message.

There are about a thousand other songs that are most likely missing from this list. What are your go-to songs to put you in an instant good mood?

Entertaining, Libations, Lifestyle

Last-Minute Summer Entertaining (And Teagaritas!)

When summer hits Seattle, everyone suddenly changes from anti-social Seattleites to extremely friendly neighbors. You say “Hi” to people on sidewalks and in elevators, everyone’s smiling, and everyone wants to get together for impromptu gatherings.

Teagarita 2

I like to be prepared with food and drink when people come over, so I’ve learned to keep some fun items stocked throughout the summer that are easy to prep and don’t involve an oven. My pantry/fridge/freezer isn’t complete without:

  • Chips and salsa (a nice, easy snack)
  • Fresh summer fruit (a great alternative to my usual baked goods)
  • Ready-to go cocktail, like Teagaritas (a fun alternative to beer or wine)

Teagarita 3

Teagaritas, if you haven’t heard of them, are a combination margarita and iced tea. It takes Jose Cuervo margaritas, mixes it with orange liqueur and iced tea, and puts it all in a bottle ready for you to serve over ice. I had my friends Kristina and Justin over on a beautifully sunny afternoon to give the cocktail a try (and enjoy some snacks and good company), and the consensus was that Teagaritas are delicious (even to those who don’t normally love iced tea!). It’s a super refreshing drink, and I love that it’s pre-prepared and ready to go. I need to re-stock, but once I do, I plan on giving one of the recipes from Jose Cuervo’s Pinterest a try.

What items do you keep on-hand in the summer? Have you been having a lot of impromptu gatherings? And have you tried Teagaritas?

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

A Geeky Home, Geeky Fashion, Gift Ideas

Get Geek-Chic with Modcloth

I was perusing Modcloth the other day (as one does when they want to put off real work), and I noticed they had a “geek-chic” section. I already love Modcloth, but I now want to fully live in the world that exists on their website. They have items for space lovers:

Modcloth Space

Science lovers:

Modcloth Science

And cat lovers (so, all of the internet),

Modcloth Cat

as well as cute items inspired by novels, school, fantasy, fandoms, and more. Basically, I want to re-do my home and wardrobe. Want to peruse their goods? Check out everything geeky Modcloth has to offer here!

What’s on your “must buy” list? (I really want these planet plates…)

Geeky Fashion

Look Like Marge with the MAC Simpsons Collection

TheSimpsons-AMBIENT-300

Dye your hair blue and start teasing it up: everyone’s going to want to look like Marge when this new collection from MAC releases!

The 10 piece collection will include nail stickers ($16.50), eye shadows ($44), lipglasses ($16.50), and lashes ($18.50) and everything will be inspired by Mrs. Simpson herself. Just look at that bright blue eyeshadow!

Start saving up: you can get it at www.maccosmetics.com on August 28 and in stores starting September 4th.

Attending San Diego Comicon? You can visit the local MAC Store on July 26th for a one day sale of the products, over a month before everyone else gets it!
Will you be picking up any pieces from this collection?

A Geeky Home

Adorable, Sassy, Pun-Filled Art

David Olenick Collage

I came across this art by David Olenick a while back, and I want to purchase some for my kitchen and some for my office. The adorable images are paired with punny sayings, shocking truths, and a few NSFW phrases that you’ll still try to put up. You can purchase the images as prints, phone cases, stationary, tote bags, pillows, and more at Society6.

What’s your favorite piece by him?

Fun Food, Recipes

Healthy Game Snacks: The Better Chip

The Better Chip provided me with product and/or compensation for this post, however the opinions I shared are my own.

Better Chip 1

I’ve been working on finding healthy snack options for game nights, and while I’ve had some success with veggies and hummus or popcorn, sometimes you just need to provide some chips for the group. In comes The Better Chip . They’re vegan, gluten-free, and have no GMOs. Plus, they come in a bunch of great flavors.

The Better Chip reached out to me and wanted me to create a “nacho” style recipe in honor of the World Cup. I used their Spinach & Kale chip (which is ridiculously delicious) to make a Greek-inspired snack. It’s essentially hummus and a Greek salad on top of the chips. Want to make it yourself? Follow the recipe below!

Greek Salad "Nachos"
 
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Author:
Ingredients
  • The Better Chip Spinach & Kale Chips
  • Hummus
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 tomato
  • ½ onion
  • Kalamata olives
  • Feta cheese
  • Black Pepper
Instructions
  1. Using a knife, spread the hummus on each chip.
  2. Dice the cucumber, tomato, onion, and kalamata olives. Mix together.
  3. Crumble feta into the salad mixture, top with pepper. Mix together.
  4. Place a spoonful of the salad onto each chip. Serve!

 

This also makes a nice small meal on a hot summer day. Want to make it even more “nacho”-like? Amp up the Greek-ness and the cheesiness by making Saganaki! I made the fried cheese to accompany these nachos the other day by following this recipe. Want to know how it turned out? Check out my Instagram!

Moral of the story is, I had a great time playing around with Better Chips and making Greek “nachos”. (And they must have been good–Greece won their game after I made it!) If you want to give the chips a try as well, just leave a comment answering the following question: “What recipe would you create with The Better Chip?”

Two winners will be selected on Wednesday and will win:

  • An assortment of chips
  • A TBC branded caxirola (the official noise maker of the World Cup)
  • A “Nachos Around the World” recipe sheet
  • Coupon for more product
  • A TBC chip clip


A big “thank you” to The Better Chip for sponsoring this post!

News

Tara’s at Vidcon!

I am currently heading to the airport, about to fly to sunny Anaheim for Vidcon. I’ll be repping Job Hunters when I’m not at Disneyland or meeting with friends. If you’re going, you should check out the following things I’m doing:

Job Hunters Q&A Session

I’ll be on the Job Hunters panel on Saturday at 12:30pm in room 209! We’ll show episodes 1-3 as well as run a Q&A session.

Vidcon Arena

Throughout the convention, we’re going to be running a game called “Vidcon Arena”! You’ll receive a QR code in your Vidcon bag. Stick the code onto your Vidcon badge, and scan others to get points for your “kills” in the arena. Top scoring players will get to face off against the Job Hunters cast in a game of laser tag for prizes! Find out more in this instructional video:

I’ve been working with QR Wild to make the Vidcon Arena game come to life, and they have gone above and beyond with it. I’m so psyched to see people playing it!

Will you be at Vidcon? (If you see me, stop me and say “Hi!”)

News, Videos

Job Hunters Season 2 Episode 1 is HERE!


The web series I produce, Job Hunters, has just released the first episode of its second season. We’ve been working on this for a year, and I’m so excited to have it out in the world now.

Some of you may not have even known me/read this blog back when the first season came out. But if you can give it a watch, I’d so appreciate it! You can start with the second season (there’s a recap at the beginning), or you can see the first season here.

Let me know what you think in the comments, and if you like it, please share it with your friends!

Comics, Fun Food, Geek Fit, Marvel, Movies, Recipes

Tony Stark-worthy Green Smoothies with Silk Almond Milk

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. 

In my pursuit to continue to live a healthier lifestyle, I’ve been working out more and trying to incorporate some healthy “superfoods” into my diet. I’ve been hearing about the benefits of green smoothies for forever, and thought, if Iron Man drinks ’em, why can’t I? The best blender for whole fruits and vegetables is the best choice in this respect.

So when Silk approached me to make some almond milk recipes, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try out some of these smoothies. It’s a quick and cool way to grab breakfast, which makes it great for the summer, and since I’m lactose intolerant, I’m able to get my calcium and other nutrients from the added almond milk, which is awesome.

I headed to Safeway and picked up the Silk Almond Coconut blend and the Silk Almondmilk Protein + Fiber, as well as a bunch of fruit and a GIANT bag of spinach for the smoothies.

IMAG1059
There they are, just chillin’ in the dairy section waiting to go home with me!

I made two different types of smoothies: A sweet strawberry/banana one, and a more tropical one. They’re very green and still have a very small hint of a spinach after-taste, but overall, if you’re looking for a smoothie full of really good stuff and you’re a beginner to the green drinks, these are going to be your go-tos. They’re super quick and easy to make!

Strawberry Banana Green Smoothie

Strawberry Banana Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

Making of Straw Banana

Directions:

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and uniformly green.
  3. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Tropical Green Smoothie

Tropical Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

Making of Tropical

Directions:

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and uniformly green.
  3. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Are you a green smoothie drinker? What’s your go-to combo?

Doctor Who, Geeky Fashion, Lifestyle

My Fave Doctor Who Shirt (And You Can Win One Too!)

 

Jordandene recently sent me this tank top, and I’m in love. It’s technically a Doctor Who shirt, but with the subtlety of the colors and a great quote (“We’re All Stories in the End”), it can pass as a “non-geek” shirt, which allows me to wear it in more situations. It’s a unisex-style shirt that can run a bit baggy, so I like it tucked in all slouchy-like.

I took the shirt to the Seattle Public Library and randomly came across an entire aisle of books with a very fitting name. Can you tell what it is?

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WIN your own “We’re All Stories in the End” tank top as well as a TARDIS half apron by entering in the Rafflecopter below! Don’t want to take your chances, or have your eyes on another one of Jordandene‘s lovely items? Treat yo self with 20% off your order. Just use code “geekyhostess14”. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What’s your fave Doctor Who quote?

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