Recent Posts

A Geeky Home

8-Bit Cutting Board

Looking for a great quality wood cutting board, but don’t want it to look like everyone else’s? Prairie Oak Studios can help you out. Their boards include 8-bit renditions of Mario and Nyan cat, or just simply beautiful designs. They feature this quote on their site: “Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” -William Morris. With these cutting boards, you’ll get a great product that will also make you smile every time you use it. Can’t beat that!

Cutting boards: $59-110 at Etsy.com.

Crafty Geek, Gift Ideas

Googly-Eyed Stationary

Let’s be honest here: Googly Eyes make everything better. Some ladies in the geek community have even started “vandaleyes”ing various objects in public with googly eyes. This stationary set will assure that the card is greeted with a huge smile. The set comes with 12 cards of various sweets (including cupcakes, cotton candy, ice cream, and lollipops) and 24 googly eyes to affix where you so choose.

Eye Candy Notecard set, $9.95 at Amazon.com.

Geeky Fashion

Geek Fashion: Superhero Swimwear

As summer gets closer, the search for the perfect bikini is on. If you’re looking for something a bit unique or geeky, like yourself, look no further! Give one of these comic-inspired bikinis a try:

TMNT Halter

This bikini top pairs perfectly with a pair of black bikini bottoms and shows your love for TMNT without making you dress up like one.
On sale for $18.74 at Spencersonline.com.

Wonder Woman Bikini

Feel like a superhero yourself in this Wonder Woman bikini. The cut looks pretty comfortable!
$42.99 at SuperheroStuff.com.

Supergirl Bikini

Watch out for kryptonite and wedgies in this itsy-bitsie Supergirl bikini!
$42.99 at SuperheroStuff.com.

Batman Monokini

If you’re looking for a little bit more coverage, this Batman monokini’s where it’s at. Monokinis are also available for Wonder Woman and Supergirl.
$47.99 at SuperheroStuff.com.

What do you look for in a swimsuit?

Libations

Get Hammered with a Thor Bottle Opener

Show everyone you have the power of Thor when you open their beers with a replica of Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer. I sincerely hope it prevents you from lifting it after you’ve had too much to drink.

Hammer of Thor Bottle Opener, on sale for $14.99 at ThinkGeek.com.

Geek Etiquette

Geek Etiquette: Stop Waiting

I was flipping through a magazine the other day, and came across this ad for a Honda CR-V. I was a bit startled by its sentiment, which is one I’ve heard from many friends. “Before I get married I want to…”

I’m sorry, but if getting married means you wouldn’t be able to do anything on your bucket list anymore, then why are you marrying that person? I think every item shown on this list would be more fun with a partner. And if your partner DOESN’T want to be on a superhero kickball team with you, then I think it’s time you start looking for someone else. Seriously.

Stop putting off life decisions or exciting opportunities because you haven’t accomplished something yet. Don’t wait until you’ve lost those last 10 pounds to make your awesome cosplay outfit. Don’t give up a sweet job or opportunity because you’re not sure if you’re ready to move or if your friends will still be there. And don’t put off marrying the person you love because you haven’t experienced everything by yourself yet. You will still be you. You can have your independence. You’ll just have a partner waiting for you when you get home or right there with you, supporting you and cheering you on.

Are you putting off a big life decision? What’s holding you back?

 

Recipes

Vegan/Allergen-Free Chocolate Cupcakes

As I’ve been making cupcakes for others, I’ve found the need for a vegan, allergen-free recipe. Although this recipe isn’t gluten-free, it does take care of people who can’t have dairy or eggs. I was turned on to the type of recipe, “crazy cakes”, by the makeup artist on the Job Hunters set. Apparently this type of cake was made often during the depression/war time because of the lack of more expensive ingredients. The only weirdish ingredient in it is white vinegar, but I promise you can’t taste it (even in the raw batter). Almost everything else you should be able to find in your pantry already!

These particular cupcakes were made for my dad’s birthday–I expected them to taste weird or different, but the family loved them, even those who didn’t have food allergies. The cupcakes turn out pretty light and fluffy and can be topped with a frosting of your choice. (I used canned frosting for these–but here’s a dairy free frosting recipe from Divvies, courtesy of MarthaStewart.com.) I then topped the frosting with tons of sprinkles and hand-molded chocolate dinosaurs, cause they were born around the same time as my dad. 🙂 You can find the same mold at Amazon.com.

Vegan/Allergen-Free Chocolate Cupcakes
 
Save Print
Allergen Free Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe inspired by traditional "Crazy Cake", this one taken from Divvies Bakery, as found on MarthaStewart.com
Author:
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour (the original recipe calls for cake flour, but it turns out just fine without, in case you don't have it)
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1¼ cups water
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and prepare cupcake pans with wrappers
  2. In a medium bowl, lightly mix together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix together oil, vinegar, vanilla, and water until well combined. Add dry ingredient mixture and mix until smooth.
  4. Pour batter into cupcake tins, filling each cup ½ to ¾ full.
  5. Bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating pan halfway through cooking, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
  6. Immediately remove cupcakes from muffin tin and transfer to a wire rack to let cool.
  7. Frost and enjoy!

Do you have any fave recipes for people with dietary restrictions? Share the links in the comments!

Gift Ideas

Smart Mudflap Girl

Show everyone that smart ladies are sexy (or get a mudflap sticker for the lady or gentleman in your life that likes their ladies smart!) with this awesome version of the traditional “mudflap girl” we’ve all seen before. At only $6.99, you can get a few for your friends! I know I’d want to strike up a conversation with someone who has this sticker…

Smart Mudflap Girl decal, available at ThinkGeek.com.

News

Experience Their Trip of a Life

As I had mentioned before, my parents entered (and won!) a “Trip of Their Lives” from Scottevest. Their prize is a two-parter: the first trip is to Italy for the honeymoon they never had, and the second part will be a photo-journalistic trip to Congo that my dad will be taking later this summer. My parents had never traveled out of the Americas, so this has been a HUGE deal for them.

Visit their site to see photos and video by my dad, blog entries by my mom, and to learn all about the Scottevest apparel they’re wearing. They’re gearing up for a Skype call with Scott himself this evening!

(And seriously–if you’ve never tried Scottevest, you’ve got to. My mom wears her Molly jacket everywhere, and I’m in love with my trench.)

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