Runs on Coffee and Cream

Let's be honest, I could easily go crazy buying all the Christmas decorations and ornaments that pop up every year in stores. I love the glittery, colourful, classic, pop culture, and adorable Christmas decor that shows up at all my favourite stores. So I have to practice self control and just buy a few things each year. And then allow myself a couple of things on clearance after Christmas. I think Adam's scared that in 10 years every square inch of our house will be decorated for Christmas.

To keep myself under control I've made a Christmas decor wish list that I can look at and admire and hopefully that'll be enough instead of running out to buy them.


Clockwise from top right:
1. Harry Potter ornament
2. Birch LED tree
3. Tent ornament
4. Decorative sisal tree in aqua
5. Buddy the Elf Snow Globe and magnets

Do you decorate a lot for the holidays? What's on your Christmas decor wish list?
xo Jen

My goal in November was to get my Etsy shop updated 100% and I'm almost there! We lose sunlight so early in the day now that it's hard to photograph products but I'm finding some tricks and places in the house that work.

Here's just a snippet of what I've added to my Etsy shop:




Since it's now December there's not much more time to place orders to have them arrive in time for Christmas. If you need a special order or faster shipping, send me an email!

xo Jen

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is out in theatres today and I'm so excited to go see it! I work all weekend but I'll be heading to the theatre early next week to squeeze in a Fantastic Beasts date. Every trailer released for this movie gives me goosebumps and makes my stomach flip in excitement. I cannot wait to travel back into this magical universe.

In celebration of the movie being released I shared my favourite Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them things, both clothing and books.

If you're on Twitter or Instagram you've probably seen a popular hashtag floating around to define yourself in three fictional characters. I, of course, jumped on this and gave myself a couple of days to mull over what characters I'm most like. And then after seeing Jordandene turn her character picks into a #5FandomFriday post, I thought, what a fun idea!

My initial 3 picks:


1. Mikey from Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
In this series Mikey loves all cute things, especially cats, gets super excited for food, pronounces words wrong, and has a tendency to trip or crash into something when he's supposed to be quiet like a ninja. Sounds like me, right?

2. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter
Oh how do I relate with Hermione's need to study, be right, and not get into trouble. That was me growing up, and maybe me now too.

3. Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation
Leslie's positive attitude, strong work ethics, loyalty to friends, and love of waffles are pretty much bang on for me.

4. Jess Day from New Girl
Whether Jess is wearing one of her cute dresses, knitting on the couch, baking desserts (and not trusting those who don't like desserts), or being super socially awkward, I feel like I'm seeing me in her character.

5. Bubbles from Powerpuff Girls
I identify with Bubbles when it comes to her positivity, love of all things cute, and her sensitive personality.

What fictional characters would you pick?
xo Jen

5 Fandom Friday Info

 
After obtaining my Butterbeer frapp, I got myself sorted (Gryffindor!), had my tarot cards read, played Harry Potter trivia and won some chocolate coins, and admired all the cosplays and Harry Potter clothing being worn.

At 11:50 p.m. they had us line up and when the clock hit midnight, the line moved quickly and I was handed my copy of the book in a limited edition tote bag. I was so excited and full of adrenaline when I got home that I read for two hours before my eyes deceived me and I had to sleep. I haven't been able to read the book as much as I'd like (thanks to silly work, chores, and errands) but I'm flying through it at a faster rate than normal. So far I'm enjoying it a lot and I will avoid giving spoilers, but they did a great job bringing the Harry Potter universe to life again.


Did you pick up Harry Potter and the Cursed Child yet?
xo Jen

I made a Butterbeer Poke Cake to eat over this fantastic weekend to celebrate Harry Potter's birthday and the release of the new book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which both happen on July 31st,

I'm a huge fan of poke cakes since it ends up being super moist and gooey. I had the idea to make a butterbeer one when I came across another recipe that required pop in the recipe. Luckily last year I made Butterbeer Ice Cream Floats so I knew where to buy vanilla cream soda since it's difficult to find in Canada.


Butterbeer Poke Cake

• vanilla cake (use your favourite recipe or a boxed mix)
• vanilla cream soda
• toffee bits
• whipped topping
• butterscotch topping

Directions:

1. When you make your vanilla cake, replace the water (or milk) with the vanilla cream soda. Use a long 9" x 13" pan for this cake. Let the cake cool completely before moving to the next step.


2. Using a butter knife, make small cuts in your cake and drizzle your butterscotch topping into the holes. Don't worry about making a mess.


3. Sprinkle toffee bits over cake. Next, spread your whipped topping over everything.



4. Drizzle more butterscotch over the whipped topping and add even more toffee bits. Easy, right?


This cake is so yummy and super gooey from all the butterscotch. The toffee bits add a nice bit of crunch to this soft cake too.


I'll be heading to the Midnight Magic event at Indigo books Saturday night to pick up my copy of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I'm super pumped to go and I may have to splurge on a Butterbeer Frappuccino from Starbucks.

xo Jen

As we head into Summer, new television series are announced for Fall, convention exclusives are released, and current television series wrap up with cliffhangers or emotional finales. I find this is the time of year when I fangirl the most, especially as big Blockbuster movies head to the movie theatre too. Here's what I'm fangirling over right now:

1. I'm a huge fan of Kristen Bell and everything she does. Well, I recently watched the trailer for her new television show, The Good Place, and it looks hilarious and adorable and different! I'm excited for this to air.


2. Adam and I just finished playing through Left 4 Dead 2. So in comparison to the first game, this one was a million times harder (I'm exaggerating just a little). Seriously though, there was one level where we encountered maybe 9 witches. And if you've ever played Left 4 Dead, you know how scary the witches are. The music alone makes me want to curl into a ball under a blanket. It was fun playing that style of game again though, even during the stressful parts.

5 Fandom Friday Info

I believe I was always a geek. Growing up with two brothers who I was pretty close with opened my world up to more video games, action figures, cartoons, and movies than I think I would have been exposed to if I didn't have brothers. Honestly, they actually introduced me to some of the fandoms I'm still into today.

It's another 5 Fandom Friday! You can see my first post about it here. This week's topic is a fun one because I have a plethora of tattoos in my mind that I'd like to get.

Currently I have 6 tattoos but none of them are 'geeky'. Two of my tattoos are inspired by Kurt Halsey which I absolutely love and they hold a lot of meaning to me. But they're not geeky.

These are my top 5 geek tattoos I'd like to get, and hope to get when I have some extra money (hah! like that's a thing).

1. Deathly Hallows symbol


I've considered numerous Harry Potter-inspired tattoos but I always come back to the Deathly Hallows. There are some seriously gorgeous interpretations of this symbol too.

2. Pixel Hearts


This tattoo has run through my head the longest. There's meaning behind wanting it that focuses on my relationship with Adam.

3. Cats


Yes, I'm considering this a geeky tattoo. Why? Because I'm beyond obsessed and in love with cats. I geek out about them and I don't care who knows.

4. Totoro


He represents so much magic and imagination and I'd love to carry him around on me.

5. X-Men symbol


I'd love to get this small symbol somewhere on me to discreetly represent my mutant love.

What geeky tattoos do you want or have?
xo Jen

5 Fandom Friday Info

If you follow any geek bloggers on social media you might have noticed '5 Fandom Friday' posts. It started about a year and a half ago by the incredibly talented Megan and Kristin. It's a weekly link up with prompts planned out ahead of time. You can check them out here.



Since I'm late to the party I might go back and do some past ones when I have some time or when my brain is on the fritz and I need help brainstorming blog ideas.

Today is Favorite Fictional Foods!

1. Butterbeer


The Harry Potter universe definitely delivered some amazing sounding food and treats that I wish were real. But mainly, Butterbeer! Yes, there are recipes everywhere for it. But I want the actual butterbeer from the books.

2. Senzu beans


In the world of Dragon Ball, Senzu beans have rejuvenating powers. They fulfill your health and restore your energy. This would be an amazing bean to have in our world!

3. Beer Batter Cupcakes with Maple Bacon Frosting


Yes, these are the cupcakes from 2 Broke Girls when Max and Caroline go on 'Spring Break'. I know I could find a recipe online for this type of cupcake, but I'd like to reach through my TV screen and just take one that Max bakes.

4. Marshmallow Mermaid Pie


Another food I could try to replicate in my kitchen, but I'd rather just take the entire pie that Keri Russell's character in Waitress makes.

5. Applejack's Cider


The cider from the Sweet Apple Acres must be pretty amazing considering how many ponies line up for it. I can't watch this episode without craving it.

What are your favourite fictional foods?
xo Jen