January Check-In and February Goals

                                

Happy last day of January!

For this post, I decided to take a look at how I did with my goals in January and look ahead to my goals for February. To read my 2017 goal list, click HERE.

Goal 1: Do Something and Do it Well
   
      This goal was all about school and work. I can definitely say I've been keeping on top of my classwork this month. That could be because it's the beginning of a new year, but I also feel so much calmer knowing that I have finished all I have to for the day by 8 p.m. and having the rest of the night to binge on Roswell. It's also nice to feel good about the work I turn in and showing off what I know I can do.

Goal 2: Do Something Active

      This goal was the tough one. I have been skipping the coffee for more tea or water and have been taking my lunch instead of buying Hot Cheetos (something my wallet is eternally grateful for). However, I still find myself eating when I'm bored or when I know I'm not really hungry. This is definitely something I have to work on.

Goal 3: Do Things for and With Others

       I did start putting down my phone more, especially when I have time with Jonathan. One thing about my new schedule is it only leaves me with a few hours to see him before I fall asleep for the night. It made me realize how precious our time is and I feel so much healthier for it. I am able to explore my hobbies and feel less tied to a false "connection" through my screen. Not to say that computer and phone time is bad, but it's nice to be around people in the real world. Which brings me to...

Goal 4: Just Do It

       I definitely started doing things I've been putting off. I started waking up earlier to just spend a few minutes to myself. I started watching shows and movies I've put off. I went to the movies for the first time in forever and enjoyed myself. I started becoming more independent by not relying on Jonathan to take me places. I've read way more books in the last month than I have in the past year. I love how I feel accomplishing this and can't wait to see what February has in store.

Goodreads Goal 

4/35 books! Yay!!

My February Goals

• Blog more and more consistently 
• I feel pretty confident in this goal despite my recent blogging hiccup. I feel with my planner keeping me on schedule and the surge of new audience members I have (I see you!) I have more of an obligation to make this blog as awesome as possible. It reminds me why I started blogging in the first place.
• Save money
• It's been super tough with all of our big holidays falling within a four month period. Between Christmas, our anniversary, my birthday, Valentine's Day, and Jon's birthday in March....it's a lot! I hope to cut back on spending and make do with what we have. I know we can do it if we try!
•  Be more independent
• It's been really tough with our conflicting schedules lately, and oftentimes because of that, I become even more dependent on Jonathan because the little bit I get from him is so precious. However, it's time I explored my own hobbies and started doing more things that benefit us instead of waiting for us both to be free. I often hold off on grocery shopping or running errands because I love going places with him or spending our time outside of the house. Yet, I don't love putting a strain on him when he gets out of work. This will be a huge transition, but I think I can do this.                         

What are some of your goals for February? How are your previous goals going? Let's chat in the comments!


Always, Raineedayze

Where I've Been

Hey there!

As you guys may have noticed, I've been MIA for a week. However, I did do a ton of things!

Jonathan and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary last week and had a fabulous time! We went to our favorite restaurant, a local burger joint in the mall, and went to the movie theater to watch Split. It was epic and perfect for us. I'm so grateful to have Jonathan in my life and am looking forward to many more anniversaries.

Not on our anniversary, but still in love

I also started my practicum this month. It's on the job training for my counseling degree and it really makes me feel "grown up". It makes all I've been working toward start to feel real, which is awesome and terrifying at the same time. However, it does take up a ton of my time now so I have to really schedule everything in so I don't fall too far behind. It's tough but I'm excited to see where my future leads me.

All this is happening and my birthday is also next Monday!! My life is pretty crazy at the moment but I'm trying to keep everything on track. Hopefully, this doesn't affect my blog schedule too much but I'll definitely keep you guys updated on my Twitter or Instagram.

 I hope you guys continue to follow my journey even through the sporadic schedules! 

Always, Raineedayze

5 Fandom Friday: 5 Films I'm Excited for in 2017

Can you believe it's already 5 Fandom Friday? This week we're talking about 5 films I'm super stoked about in 2017!

2017 already looks fabulous as far as entertainment is concerned. I feel like within the past few years, it's been so great (and expensive) to be a nerd.We've seen an incredible spike in superhero, sci-fi, and historical movies and I am so here for it. There's been great (Civil War), funny (Deadpool), strange (Suicide Squad), and not-so-great (Batman V. Superman. Check out my review.)

For 2017, these are the 5 films I'm most excited to see.

5. Wonder Woman.

I love Wonder Woman. I mean, LOVE Wonder Woman. I am a huge fan and although I hated BvS, I adored the trailer for the Wonder Woman solo movie. I can't wait to get dressed up and see Wonder Woman kick some serious butt in June when it's released. Also, I really dig Chris Pine and Steve Trevor. He's no Nathan Fillion, but he will do great as the handsome yet arrogant Steve. 

4. Justice League. 

In the same category, I'm super excited for Justice League to come out. I am immensely excited to see Jason Mamoa as Aquaman, because as a huge fan of the animated series, Aquaman always was so tough and masculine. I'm super excited to see the whole team together and it's gonna be awesome to see some Flash wittiness on the big screen. This will be great!

3. Lego Batman. 

More DC, I know. I loved the Lego Movie. Jonathan and I watch this movie at least once a month. It's one of our favorites and I may or may not listen to Everything is Awesome when I drive to work. It is so much fun and Lego Batman looks hilarious and adorable! 

2. Beauty and the Beast. 

It's almost here guys!! I love Disney and the original movie and Emma Watson. Basically, this movie already wins. This looks fantastic and I can't wait to see how they transform from animation to live-action. 

1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. 

The first one was fantastic. I loved the storyline, I loved the characters, I loved the soundtrack. I adore Chris Pratt and I can't wait for Baby Groot. It's going to be fantastic!! 


What movies are you most excited for in 2017? Let's chat in the comments!

Always, Raineedayze

Raineedayze Reads: The Secret History of Wonder Woman

Hello, wonderful readers!

Today, I have a special treat because I'm finally reviewing Jill Lepore's book, "The Secret History of Wonder Woman". 

Guys, this book was gooooood. Even though it took me FOREVER to finish, I'm so glad I did because it was so good!

The book follows the history, not only of Wonder Woman, but of Dr. William Moulton Marston, the "creator" of Wonder Woman. I have "creator" in quotes because, as this book continuously points out, Wonder Woman was not a one-person idea. Lepore manages to trace every bit of history that may have contributed to the development of what of the most beloved and powerful icons in history. Not only does she provide a history of Marston and the women who shaped Wonder Woman's personality and design, she provides insight on the critiques, the movements, and the ideals that provided a platform for Wonder Woman.


This book manages to shed light on the fight for birth control, the suffrage movement, the divide between psychology and fame, and the free love movement, all which contributed to every bit of Wonder Woman's origin. Even her clothes, accessories, phrasing, and individual panels were carefully created to combine all of the events and ideas that Wonder Woman stood for. As an avid Wonder Woman fan, I was riveted by the amount of detail and research Lepore put into this book. 

There are even some fabulous early sketches of Wonder Woman inscribed on the inside of the book, along with pages of Wonder Woman panels throughout the year.

This was not something that can or should be read in a day, or even a week. It is something I had to re-read, flip back, and think about while I read. I believe it is vital for any feminist, fan, and historian. I truly recommend it because this book made me actively look at why I loved the character. When I found out the sheer amount of fighting to make Wonder Woman into the character she is today, I was nearly moved to tears. 

This book made me appreciate Wonder Woman, appreciate the details of others who shape my life, and appreciate how far the feminist movement has come over time. 

Rating: 4.5/5


Always, Raineedayze

Nintendo Switch: Thoughts, Hopes, and First Impressions

Hey nerds!

In case you've been living in a cave, Nintendo released their formal presentation for the Nintendo Switch last week. It was.....entertaining to say the least.

First of all, I was already on board with the Switch since it was first announced under the NX codename. I'm a huge Nintendo fangirl. I feel a lot of their video games are made to be played socially and that to me is the whole point of gaming. Don't get me wrong, I can spend a whole 9 hours gaming solo while Jonathan is at work and enjoy the hell out of it. However, I adore the social aspect of it. I like having our gaming group take on RPGs together and having party games like Smash or Mario Kart as a part of our weekend festivities with friends. This is something that I've noticed as being very consistent with Nintendo, since my days playing on the 64. 

This still seems to be a huge selling point for the Switch, with the ability to play with 8 simultaneous Switch consoles and the two Joy-Cons (the mini side controllers). It seems very co-op oriented which I'm pretty excited about. 


Here's what you need to know about the Switch. 

All photos are from the Nintendo website.


Gameplay

We got a first detailed look at the play modes for the Switch during the presentation. There are three modes: Handheld, TV, and Tabletop. TV mode is what we are all used to. Plug it in to the TV, and using the Pro Controller or the Joy-Con Grip and Joy-Cons, play on the TV. Handheld is similar to the WiiU controller, with the Switch screen in the center and both Joy-Cons attached to the sides for on-the-go gaming. Tabletop combines these two with a kickstand on the back of the Nintendo Switch and the two Joy-Cons for you and a friend to play.

Left: Joy-Cons in the Joy-Con Grip. Right: Joy-Cons attached to the Switch.

This is kind of....meh for me because I would like to have local multiplayer on our TV instead of just during tabletop play. I'm sure it will still be possible, but it would be nice to not have to buy a second controller for these purposes.

Console and Specs

The Nintendo Switch will be released March 3rd, at a price of $299.99. Comparitively speaking, the WiiU was released for $249.99. Their will also be a subscription service for online play. At launch, players will be able to use the online software for free, which will change in the fall of this year to a fee. Nintendo did not announce pricing at this time.

Red-Blue variant version

For $299.99, you get the console, the docking station (for TV gameplay and docking), both L-R Joy-Cons, two Joy-Con wrist straps, the Joy-Con Grip, an HDMi cable, and the Switch AC adapter. These packages come in two colors, gray and a red-blue combo.

Extra accessories will cost you a lot more with the Pro Controller running at $69.99, extra sets of Joy-Cons at $89.99, a charging grip for simultaneous charging while playing at $29.99, and an extra dock for any other TVs at $89.99.

The Switch has a 6.2-inch screen and 32 GB of storage, which fortunately allows for expandable storage through microSD cards. There is also an amiibo scanner available on the Joy-Con.

My Thoughts

Let's talk about what I liked. I loved the screenshot button on the controller. I am a huge screenshotter during games so that is very convenient for me. I also love the portability of the console. Jonathan and I go camping with our gaming group every year so this will definitely be something to look forward to. 

I didn't like the small controllers. I understand, it helps make the Switch easier to move and play on-the-go, however these things are so small! It's going to be hard to get into a game with a small controller. Also, Joy-Con is a weird name for it. Not feeling that at all.

I also wasn't a huge fan of the lack of games to be released at launch. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is going to be available, however the game I am most excited for, Super Mario Odyssey will be coming later this Christmas. It seems most of the other games will also be coming after the launch, so it may be sitting on my shelf for a while until the rest of the games come out. 
 

Overall, it could use a few tweaks and I know there will more than likely be some extra features, more controllers, more colors, and different accessories released later, but I plan on pre-ordering mine as soon as they become available. I'm even shrinking my birthday festivities to save up for it. 

You can check out the entirety of the presentation on Nintendo's website.

Do you plan on ordering? Let's chat in the comments!

Always, Raineedayze
 

Captain's Log 10: To Boldly Go

Hey you guys!


It's Monday, which means CAPTAIN'S LOG! This is what I've been up to this week.

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Yeah. A whole lot of nothing interesting.


I picked up a lot of extra hours at work since we were extremely short-handed. It's also the busiest time of year, so I was pretty much in a constant stress mode. However, I did manage to geek out at home with my entertainment choices.

I've decided to take a break from my phone time and actually catch upon TV I missed, books I haven't read, and projects I want to do. For example, I love Star Trek. I mean, the title of this post obviously shows that, but I want to indulge myself in fandom. Before this week, I hadn't watched an episode in years. This week, I poured myself a glass of wine and actually started my Star Trek rewatch. I've always had a plan to watch every single episode and movie, as I haven't seen them all, and I think this is the year I finally go for it. I know, watching TV is a weird goal, but I want to be a better fan of what I love.

I also set my Goodreads goal. I plan on reading at least 35 books this year, though I'm aiming for higher if possible. You can follow my goal and set your own here. Let's read together and keep each other on track!


Here's what else I'm doing this week.

The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore. I put this on a previous Captain's Log, however, I never finished the book. Life kind of got in the way, but I picked the book back up and hope to make it my first book out of the 35 that I read this year. It's incredible and cover the suffrage movement, the free love movement, and the fight for birth control. There's such a rich history that grouped together to form Wonder Woman and I feel so much more connected to the character by reading this book.

Roswell (Netflix). Roswell was a show I had vaguely heard of, however I didn't know too much about it. In an effort to try new things, I watched the first episode. IT WAS AMAZING! The show is very 90's, very cheesy, but it's so addictive. It gives me the feelings that drew me into sci-fi in the first place. The feeling of mystery, fear, but also hope. I definitely recommend this show to anyone. 

Star Trek: TOS. I began my Star Trek rewatch by going back to the beginning and it reminds me of why I fell in love with it in the first place. I love this show and even though I'ma TNG girl, Kirk, Uhura, Bones, and Spock will always have a special plae in my heart.

Herocraft. I have a weird relationship with Minecraft. It's one of Jonathan's favorite games, so I do try to play a bit with him. However, I also get a little bit of motion sickness when I play for a while so it's a struggle. We've dabbled on this server for years now but finally started playing more on it since we have more free time. I enjoy this server because it is Minecraft with an RPG twist. It's pretty fun when you have a whole group with you, which we do. I definitely recommend it if you enjoy Minecraft. 

That's all I have for this week! What are your plans for this week? Let's chat in the comments!


Always, Raineedayze

5 Fandom Friday: 5 Nerdy Places I Want to Visit

January prompts are up and I'm so excited to finally participate in a 5 Fandom Friday on time! For this FFF, I'm looking at 5 nerdy places I'd like to visit. This is pretty tough because I love to travel and have been pretty much nowhere. So, hopefully in the near future these will all become a reality.


5. Japan.

            Okay, I don't know if this is nerdy, but my reasons sure are. Obviously, I'm a huge anime fan but I'm also a huge history and art fan. I would love to explore Japan not only for the pop cultural aspects but for the rich history surrounding the area. I was friends with a woman who lived in Japan until her early twenties, and she used to tell me stories all about life in the country. It was just so cool to hear about a completely different culture and I'd love to appreciate the beautiful history in the actual location.

4. King's Cross

            
             I love Harry Potter. Harry Potter was my first real fandom, and is still a place I turn to when I need a little magic in my life. I would love to visit King's Cross and maybe feel a little bit of the magic from the unified nerdiness of those who walked the station before me. Basically, I would just combust from the awesomeness.

3. San Diego Comic-Con

          I have a love/hate relationship with conventions. I love all the cool stuff and the endless shopping. I love the nerdiness. But, my social anxiety skyrockets during conventions. It's a pretty bleh feeling. I do hope to overcome that issue and attend more conventions in spite of it though. Plus, I hear SDCC is wicked fun! This would be not only a stepping stone in overcoming anxiety, but also a treasure trove of awesome experiences.

2. Wizarding World 

        Again, I adore Harry Potter. I would love to visit the Wizarding World to feel more connected with my Potterhead fandom. It'd be incredible to get my wand, get my robes, and taste butterbeer! This is one of my "let's go today" goals. I think this will be one of the first big places Jon and I will save up to go to. I can't wait!!

1. DISNEYWORLD

        I've never been to Disneyland or Disneyworld and I feel that has to change. I've seen so many wonderful posts and photos from Disneyworld and I can't stand not having the experiences. MY LIFE HAS TO HAVE MAGIC IN IT!!! This is the current trip we are saving for because I've bugged Jon for years about it. I'm so excited to get there someday, but for now I must live vicariously through others.




What nerdy places would you love to visit? What nerdy places have you already visited? Let's chat in the comments! Also, if you participate in 5 Fandom Friday, link it to me so I can check it out!


Always, Raineedayze

Review: GeekChicCosmetics Haul

Hey all you happy people!

Today, I decided to formally publish my review of my haul from Geek Chic Cosmetics. If you follow me on Snapchat and Instagram, you may have seen my unboxing and swatches of the products. However, now that I've used the products a ton, I think I can finally write an actual full review! 

This is a completely honest review and is not sponsored by anyone. All products were purchased by Jonathan (who is seriously the greatest) and we weren't paid for this. Although, if you wanna send me free makeup GCC, I'm so down. ;)

The Products


The Sailor Moon Collection plus the Collector's tin

The Overwatch Collection (sans tin)

Power-Up Primer (both potted and in a tube)

Cara Mia Lip Zazz Liquid Lipstick

Sweet Transvestite Joystick

Once Bitten Joystick

Single Player Shadows in Katamari King and One Ring (any shadow not part of a collection is considered a "Single Player")

BONUS: Free Samples of Boop eyeshadow included with each purchase

Swatching!

 Overwatch Shadows
          - Right Beside You (Mercy)
          - Fire At Will (Zarya)
          - Justice Rains From Above (Pharah)
          - Deja Vu (Tracer)
          - One Shot, One Kill (Widowmaker)
          - Nerf This! (D.Va)

Sailor Moon
    - Rainbow Moon Heart Ache
    - Queen of Darkness
    - Space Turbulence
    - Mars Snake Fire
    - Submarine Reflection
    - Chronos Typhoon
    - Silence Glaive Surprise
    - Crescent Beam Shower
    - Mercury Aqua Mist
    - Twinkle Tell
    - Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber
    - Flower Hurricane
    - Boop* (Not part of the Sailor Moon Collection)

Single Player Shadows
    - Katamari King
    - One Ring

Lips (L-R)
   - Sweet Transvestite
   - Cara Mia
   - Once Bitten

The Reviews

Flower Hurricane & Rainbow Moon Heart Ache w/ primer

All the eyeshadows were so beautiful! They glide on nice and easy and pack tons of color. I was a bit wary when I swatched them because of how incredibly shimmery they were. I was nervous they were going to be too much glitter and no substance. However, the colors are still vibrant without being cartoony and combined with the primers, stay on all day!

The primer is fabulous at what it does. However, it is very difficult to glide on your eyes since the formula is so thick. It was difficult to spread without pulling my eyelid. The stick primer was much easier but still wasn't as smooth as I'd hoped. But as for staying power, it does amazing.

Cara Mia

The liquid lipstick was GORGEOUS. The color was very rich and I felt like Morticia Addams when I wore it. I do suggest moisturizing your lips like crazy before you apply though. It can make dry lips flake like crazy. However, just a light balm underneath keeps this looking fabulous and feeling perfect!




The Sweet Transvestite Joystick was a gorgeous blood red. It had a copper hue to it which paired well on top of the the Cara Mia lipstick. I thought the color was going to be redder but it turned out to be a wonderfully unexpected shade. I definitely got Rocky Horror vibes from it and it glides on so smoothly.

Once Bitten

My Once Bitten Joystick has become a daily fave. Not too hard to pair with any eyes but still bold enough for me. It glides on with full coverage in one swipe and I like the shape of the tubes. Very easy to store and the color is great!









As for the overall purchase, the prices were great for the amazing quality of the products. I also loved the service. I ordered my products during the Black Friday Sale and received them before the 13th. It was obvious they took time in making each product great and look awesome. With loose glitter, packaging can often get a little messy in transit. I can gladly say all my shadows were in great condition with limited glitter fallout. Some of the seals inside the product were a bit shifted but since the package was well sealed on the outside and inside, no harm was done. 


My Final Thoughts

All the eyeshadows were great and I've loved the multitude of colors. I was able to pair some of the colors extremely well with each other and they also pair nicely with Urban Decay's Electric Palette. For a brow highlight, I love Mercy's shade "Right Beside You". I also love the Sailor Moon shade "Rainbow Moon Heart Ache" for highlighting my inner eye. The Widowmaker shade "One Shot, One Kill" and the Sailor Moon "Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber" shade both help give depth to a killer smokey eye and I love pairing them with the One Ring shade. Seriously, the glitter in One Ring is PERFECT.



Out of all these products I have to say my winner for best product is the One Ring eyeshadow due to the amount of glitter packed into it. It's great to pack on your lid or your lips on top of red lipstick. Basically, this is like the chocolate of products. You can never go wrong with it. 









Which one was your fave? What are some of your favorite geeky beauty products? Let's chat about it!


Check out GeekChic Cosmetics here!


Always, Raineedayze