There’s something incredibly magical and infectious about knowing the weather is getting nicer. I realize it’s only March, but here in Seattle the sky has opened up and the sun’s peaking through, and I can feel it in my bones.

Seattle’s a funny place, because when the sun comes out, we know our time is limited. The sun is a finite resource here, and when we have it – we use it to its full potential. As soon as those clouds part, the city goes crazy. We plan vacations. We have picnics. We start jogging again. We sit on our decks. We make lists, we spring clean, we dust off old hobbies and vow to start doing them again.

This happens to me every year, and I am always thankful for those first, early rays of sun that really get my muscles pumping (both actual muscles and creative muscles). And after a solid three months of adjusting to my new job, I think I just might have started to find some semblance of a life/work balance again, which means I actually might have the capacity to take on these new summer plans I’ve got churning in my mind.

I am a chronic over-achiever. I mean this in every sense of the word – while I love saying yes, yes yes to everything, it often leaves me with not enough time to accomplish everything I set out to do, stress knots in my shoulders, and a to-do list that would make even the most organized cringe.

But at least when the weather is nice, I have that extra something on my side. Energy. Motivation. Positivity. The promise of long car rides with friends, inspiring conventions, seeing people we never get to spend enough time with, camping trips, and best of all – getting stuff done.

I have a lot of things I want to do this year. My convention list has eight events and counting, I’ve got a laundry list of cosplays I want to make, and I’m trying to bite the bullet and finally edit one of my novels. I miss doing Team Hypercube regularly. I would love to take a personal vacation for once. I’m still trying to read 50 books this year, work exercise into my routine, and keep in better touch with the people I care about.

It’s going to be a crazy summer. But somehow, the sun on my face on this chilly March morning is telling me I can do it. And whatever I can’t accomplish – that’s okay too. Because we’re only capable of exactly what we’re meant to do.

What are your plans for the good weather season? Does the hint of sunshine ramp you up? Let me know in the comments, and let’s all try to encourage each other!

This post is a bit past due, but better late than never, right? Last week one day, two my roommates and I myself decided to play hooky and head down to our local water park. It’s a good forty minutes away, so it can be really easy to go a whole summer without making it down there. But with how busy we’ve all been with Job Hunters (and how little I’ve been allowed in the sun to keep continuity for the season) I think it’s really important to make time for spontaneous trips to really appreciate beautiful summer weather.

I spent most of the day in my bikini, but before that, here’s what I was wearing. Fun bright yellow shorts from Target that I rarely find reason to wear, a blue tourist tank I bought on my family trip to Puerto Vallarta back in February, and brand new right-out-of-the-box sandals from Modcloth.

We spent the day lounging in beach chairs, playing in the wave pool and alternating between all of the best water slides. I brought my GoPro along as well, which was altogether too much fun for a video nerd like myself. There really isn’t much more to say about the day, aside from wanting to reiterate how important summer sunshine outings are, especially when shared with friends. This was the most relaxing and fun day I’d had in a long time, and appreciated Eia and Justin coming along with me so, so much.

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The final day of a con always comes much too soon. After what felt like a literal SECOND of parties and panels and pitiful amount of sleep, the final day of VidCon reared its ugly head in a mocking tone, one that shouted directly in my hungover, sensitive ears, “Kristina! You haven’t even explored the Expo Hall yet!”

So Saturday was a blur. I had a signing at 10am, which I had to forcefully roll myself out of bed for. This is why all dresses and skirts and high heeled shoes were left in the suitcase in favor of flats and denim jeans. Don’t get me wrong – my signing was lovely. Two hours of meeting people who watch my videos, who enjoy Job Hunters, who wait with bated breath for the next episode of Dokapon Kingdom – I live for that. But there was a giant mechanical shark that could literally chew its way through a chair in the Expo Hall, and I hadn’t even gotten to see it yet.

Immediately after my signing we gathered the Job Hunters cast and hung out at the Wyrd booth for another hour – taking photos with fans and playing our Season 2 trailer on loop for anyone that’d missed it at the panel. THEN Joe and I played Jetpack Unicorn with a kickstarter backer named Cate Neuhauser who was so good at our game that it made us look bad.

Then, around 3pm (when the Expo Hall would be closing in a mere two hours) I finally, finally got to walk around, check out the booths and get free swag. I blazed through that room with the determination of a shopper on Black Friday. I called it the “photo both tour”, collecting as many silly photos with my friends as we could cram in these final hours. Not to mention a quick pitstop in the ball pit, as well as a small detour in some sort of robot music video.

I’ll be doing another post soon about my VidCon swag, so never fear! All aspects of this con will be covered on my blog! I had such a great time, and the Expo Hall this year really pulled out all the stops. I’m so impressed with how exponentially this little con grows each year, and I’m so happy I’ve been there every year to see it firsthand.

This is a super cheesy thing to ask, but if you attended VidCon 2013, what was your favorite part? The main stage? The concerts? The vendor room? Or was it something VidCon couldn’t plan for and put on a schedule, like meeting a certain YouTuber or getting to spend time with friends you don’t see very often? For me it’s meeting the people who watch my videos. The yearly reminder of why I do this is so special to me, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

VidCon is just around the corner, so I figured now would be a good time to give you all the low-down on what I will be doing there! I’m on a couple of panels – but I’ll mostly be hanging out, frequenting a couple of relevant booths, and saying hello to friends and fans alike! Just a warning… I’ve heard there will be something like 10,000 people attending this year – so please, feel free to say hi if you see but, but if I seem tired or in a hurry, just know I am doing my best to meet everyone and do everything!

These are my official panels/events:

1. Job Hunters Sneak Peek + Talkback / Friday, 11am-12pm
We’ll be showing some ACTUAL FOOTAGE of Season 2 (this will be the first time anything from the new season will be shown publicly) as well as doing a Q&A/talkback with all of the main cast. There also might be some other fun surprises or giveaways, so don’t miss it!

2. Fiveawesomegirls Reunion Panel / Friday 2-3pm
Seriously. Myself along with Lauren, Kayley, Hayley and Liane will ALL be in the same place for the first time since 2009, rolling dice and talking about 5AG! For those diehard fans out there who always wanted us to bring back 5AG.. this panel is for you. Bring your friends and your cameras, because YOU’LL be interacting with us at this panel as well as watching us speak!

3. italktosnakes Signing Line Appearance / Saturday 10am-12pm
I’m not sure exactly what this will look like, but I’m they’ll have me sitting at a table, and people will be able to line up to come say hi, chat, and have me sign things? If you definitely want to make sure we meet at VidCon, this is probably your best bet. Please stop by!

I will also be hanging around the Wyrd Games booth (#617) in some of my down time, both to help promote my new game Jetpack Unicorn, and because that’s where Job Hunters merch will be. Speaking of Job Hunters merch, we miiight have badge ribbons this year, so be on the lookout for myself or other actors from the show if you want to wear your Job Hunters pride right on your VidCon badge!

We’ll ALSO have some sweet Safe House and Maewin themed postcards on hand at the Job Hunters/Wyrd booth… for just $2, you’ll be able to write to a friend at home and we’ll do the sending of the postcard for you! It’ll be like you’ve joined the hunt!

 

And now, I’ll just leave you with this adorable graphic Lauren Fairweather made to promote the 5AG reunion. It’s going to be a BLAST.

I can’t wait to get down to Anaheim, but there’s so much to do before then! Are you going to VidCon? If so, what are you most excited to do there?

This past weekend, my friends and I piled in the car and drove the four hours from Seattle down to Silverton, OR for the Canterbury Renaissance Faire!

Generally we go to our local faire in August, the Washington Midsummer Fantasy Faire – but due to a stroke of good fortune, I happened to pick a Fiesta Mission this month that instructed me to check out a Renaissance Faire. This was the perfect opportunity to see what other Faires go on in our area! In my searching, I found this one in Oregon  happening during the weekend we had available for the trip. So, knowing very little about where we were going or what it was going to be like, we donned our festive gear and arrived at the thicket of trees housing the Canterbury Faire.

This Faire was amazing! Not only was nearly everything shady (thank you, foliage of the Pacific Northwest!) but walking around amidst the trees and dirt actually made the experience feel that much more authentic. It was a bit smaller than the Faire we’re used to, but there was no shortage of incredible vendors, the food was delicious (love a good Turkey leg) and the people were so friendly and welcoming.

My friends and I spent a good deal of time at Oberon’s, the onsite Tavern with a selection of beers, ciders and honey mead. The Faire itself closed at 6pm each day, but we found that the Tavern stays open well into the night. We headed back after changing into what I like to call “Ren faire garb phase two”, which means unlacing bodices and leaving utility belts of knick knacks behind. Clothed in only a flowy red dress, I returned to the Tavern with my party where we enjoyed a bit more mead than we maybe needed and befriended people with names like Talon, Spiral and Lord Rose.

We also got our Tarot cards read by a lovely women who informed me that I have a guardian angel following me around.

While Saturday was full of shopping and eating and exploring, Sunday was a day of hilarity. Liz was entered in a beauty pageant, I helped invent hybrid drinks at the Tavern and was propositioned to be a model of leather headpieces for one of the merchants, and Justin was employed as the bodyguard to the ambassador to the Queen. Thus we didn’t see him for hours. You think I am joking here, but I’m not. This actually happened.

All in all, The Canterbury Faire was a lovely event that graced my friends and I with a magical, medieval weekend. I so enjoy going to Renaissance Faires, because the people there are the kindest, most interesting and fun people you can meet. Also, there is nothing wrong with a weekend where costumes and role playing are encouraged. My costume carries no weapons yet features both a wand and a potion bottle – I like to image the person I’m portraying has a couple of dark secrets.

I truly hope I can make it to another Faire this year, and I’d love to hear about your favorite Ren Faire experiences below! Also, stayed tuned for an Outfit of the Day post on my full medieval ensemble!