Creating geek chic outfits for San Diego Comic Con can be daunting since it’s the epicenter of geek style and fashion. You want to look good, while also being comfortable enough to be on your feet and on the go 24/7. I figured I would share some of my tried and true techniques to help take some of the stress out of packing now that we are in the final stretch (can you believe it?!).
Needless to say, Comic Con is a crazy time. These last few weeks leading up to San Diego are always frenzied, so I figured I would hand out a weekly tip until it is D-day to help the rest of you out! Even though I love love love going to Comic Con, sometimes certain components of it really stress me out, so I am always looking for ways to simplify. This year, you guys are going along for the ride.
Lets talk Comic Con beauty. Sure, it may not be the first thing you think of when you think of SDCC, but I assure you, it is important. I feel looking your best is important whether you are cosplaying, networking or presenting. So many pictures are being taken and memories are being made, so you want to make sure you look put together and fresh, without overpacking (c’mon, we need room for all our swag!). Here are some of my absolute essentials:
I don’t usually blur the line between my hobby (blogging) and my career (behavior analysis), but I feel like this particular topic can benefit us all in this crazy culture that we are living in. For those of you that don’t know, I have another instagram (@behaviormagictherapy) where I share ABA tips + tricks, and I posed the question of sharing my thoughts on work/life balance and everyone replied with a resounding yes. So here I am.
My field (amongst others I’m sure) is renown for blurring boundaries and having severe burn out within the community. Working so closely with families day in and day out can cause you to always be “on,” and I was able to manage this pressure with relative ease for years…until I started a family. The second I became a mom and came back after maternity leave, I felt an insane amount of stress and anxiety with the task of balancing my child, my husband, my hobbies AND still being a kick ass analyst. And yes, although at times I feel bogged down and let my negative thoughts consume me, I know I am still good at my job. But that is because, although I learned to say no to others some time ago, I am just recently learning to say no to myself. And that by saying no to my overachieving, over anxious mind, I can still manage to do a good job without negatively effecting myself and other (honestly more important) areas of my life.
If there is one thing that proves to be stress relief in my life (even at almost 40), it is planning a good outfit. My excitement grows if it is fandom-related, so putting together outfits for cons has always been something I really relish in. Lately I’ve found myself trying my best to find as many pieces as I can that are already in my closet. You see, I don’t go out much any more now as a mama bear, but I continued to buy outfits for awhile as if I did. So I have so many gems that don’t really get to see the light of day already in my closet. It’s been an extra challenge and my wallet has really, really thanked me during a very busy traveling year (what possessed me, I have no idea) where every penny counts.
Megacon Orlando and I? We have history.
My first Megacon was in 2014, just a brief month or so after I suffered a miscarriage. I cried the way up to Orlando because I felt guilty for doing something “fun,” but then quickly realized it was just what I needed. The convention scene and I have always been allies, a place I feel safe and at home in. Somewhere where I feel I can be myself without judgement. I had quite a lot of that fun I was feeling guilty for experiencing and met some lifelong friends. For this, it has always stayed in my heart.
It was only natural that Luna’s first convention be Mega, and it was last year. I had my reservations about how she would take it, but she was such a champ. Not many two year olds can say that their first celebrity encounter was Jeff Goldblum while dressed like Queen Elsa. Just sayin’.