Christmas

Geek Chic: Baby Slytherin

I know, I know. On Wednesdays we write about Winchesters. You can all tweet your disappointment at me later. I got sidetracked, okay? It’s the end of term for me, and I wrote a 17 page essay in six hours today. So instead of blogging about Winchester angst, I decided I need to do something a little cuter and fluffier.

Let me tell you about Baby Slytherin.

My brother recently phoned me (while I was in a crowded restaurant no less!) and told me that in a few months, I’d be Auntie Collectress. Yes, coming summer 2015 is the affectionately (and somewhat biasedly) named Baby Slytherin. So like any good auntie, I immediately took to the interwebs to find cute baby clothes. Here are my Harry Potter favourites for the geek chic wee wizard, and just in time for Christmas.

Welcome to House Slytherin

Available here on Etsy
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7 Films to See Before 2015

I always keep a weather eye open for films being released near holidays (namely Thanksgiving and Christmas), and this year will not be a disappointment. Here are seven movies coming out before 2015 that look terribly promising (and I wish I had the money to go see them all).

*Please note that the release dates listed are for the US. If you live elsewhere, please click on the title to see IMDB’s listing of other dates.

Big Hero 6 | November 7, 2014

Ever since I saw the teaser trailer for Big Hero 6, I’ve known it was something I had to see. Not only does it look entertaining, but it’s the first animated film from Disney that is based on their recently acquired ownership of Marvel Comics. If you haven’t heard of the Big Hero 6 team before, don’t worry—it’s one of the more obscure comics, out-shined by the heroics of the big guys (Thor, Iron Man, that whole gang).

This came out just a few days ago in the US, so you can still be among the first to see the Disney/Marvel fusion. If you need motivation, just watch the teaser. Seriously, it’s the cutest thing.

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Saying Goodbye to Eleven: A Look at “The Time of the Doctor”

The Time of the Doctor

Written by Steven Moffat

The Collective gals have been dreading this episode ever since the BBC’s announcement that Matt Smith was leaving Doctor Who back in June. For those of us who fell in love with Eleven fairly soon after he and his bumbling TARDIS crashed into Amelia Pond’s garden shed back in April 2010, the Timelord’s regeneration proved to be as emotional and as satisfying as we knew it would be. While I have enjoyed watching many different faces play the time traveling alien, Matt Smith was my Doctor. The Doctor with whom I began the journey through the time vortex and the one who sparked my interest in the wide Who-niverse of this brilliant television show. Matt Smith played Eleven as an ancient god; fierce and fun, sad and sweet, knowledgeable and knowingly forgetful all at the same time. He protected the innocent, never forgot a face and believed that everyone mattered. This is what led him to Trenzalore. (Spoilers ahead, sweetie!)

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S07xE15 (the 2013 Christmas special)

AKA Raggedy Man, Goodnight

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A Very Whovian Christmas

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A few months ago, I asked my nephew what he wanted for Christmas. “I want the sonic screwdriver,” he said.

“Which one?” I replied. (At five years old, Jacob is one of the most prolific Whovians I know.)

“The Tenth Doctor’s. Cuz he’s the best.”

I ordered him a sonic screwdriver off Amazon the next day. Bam. Christmas shopping done. But then, I did a silly thing and left the screwdriver in a place where any five-year-old could find it: right next to the Wii. From my silly mistake spawned a wonderful idea that encompassed the gift giving for both Jacob and his mother: a Whovian Christmas.

Phase One: The Idea

The Collected Canadian had the idea, I must say. We were brainstorming gift ideas for Jacob’s mom, and the Collected Canadian said, “You know, I bet she’d love a Doctor Who-themed photoshoot. She’s always saying she needs pictures of all of us together.” Bam. There it was. We’d all dress up like Whovian characters and do a photoshoot. We all know how much I love my cosplay, right?

So, the casting:

  • Jacob as the Doctor
  • The Collected Canadian as the TARDIS
  • Moi (The Collectress) as Bad Wolf Girl (From “The Day of the Doctor”)
  • Jacob’s mom as Amelia Pond
  • Jacob’s mom’s boyfriend as Rory Williams

Phase Two: Putting the Pieces Together

Now came the hard part: putting it all together without my sister (and housemate!) knowing. We started small, by first implanting the idea of buying Jacob a Doctor outfit to go with his sonic screwdriver. We decided on the Eleventh Doctor, because Jacob really likes his fez. (Fezzes are cool, don’t ya know…)

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