Melificent

Megacon 2019

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’.

[Read more…]

Packing a Convention Bag

conventionpackingImage via Tumblr

I’m sure you’ve seen most fashion bloggers feature what’s in their bags or purses on their sites. As you know around here, I spend much more time and energy thinking about what I should pack in my convention bag, and chances are if you are reading this, you do too. So I figured I would share the wealth of information with you all, since I am so ridiculously hyped to attend Megacon Tampa Bay next month (have I mentioned David Tennant will be there???).

First off, if you are currently hunting for the perfect bag, check out my post from last year with a pretty fun round up. It’s imperative to pick the right bag because you’ll be toting all your most precious con goodies in it all day. But, on to the good stuff: what goes inside!

  • Small wallet with cash. Why is cash so important? Number one, it keeps you on a budget and number two, sometimes cash is the only way you’ll be able to nab something at a booth or cafeteria.
  • Business cards. Are you a geeky blogger like me? Conventions are just as much a networking event as they are a fun time for us! You never know who you may meet that will want to collaborate or hit you up later. Have them handy!
  • Water bottle and small snacks. Sometimes conventions can charge a lot for food and drink, so it’s important to bring little snacks to keep your sustenance without destroying your cash flow. Also, if you have food allergies like me, snacks from home that are safe to eat are absolutely necessary. I just recently heard that Megacon Orlando was not allowing outside food or drink at all, which is not cool, so make sure you check with the event beforehand.
  • Your phone and a charging case or battery pack. Your phone goes without saying, but it is absolutely necessary to make sure you are juiced all day long. You will be snapping photos, tweeting, making your Facebook and Instagram friends jealous, and even possibly livestreaming, so expect your phone’s battery life to be depleted at some point before you leave. I’m a big fan of Mophi cases, and this external charger is too amaze for words.
  • A book or gaming system. As to not deplete all your battery life while waiting in line for panels or for friends, make sure to take something else to entertain you during down time. I’m not much for handheld gaming, so I tend to bring whatever book or comic I’m reading at the time.
  • A permanent marker. You never know who you may run into that you’d like to get more information from. People do not always have business cards (but you will if you stick to this list – heh), and sometimes you just meet really cool people you’d like to befriend outside of the con scene. Sure, there’s Facebook for that, but you may want to be old school and jot your info down. Also, there are celebrities and artists at Con! If you are lucky enough to run into one informally, you can get their John Hancock on the fly.
  • Makeup. Chances are, your makeup will not hold up for the entirety of a day on the convention floor – especially if you are cosplaying! If people are constantly snapping your picture or you are meeting new people, you want to look your best, so make sure you bring whatever lipstick you are sporting and powder. Those are the two most important makeup items for me. If I were to recommend a long lasting lippie for a con, I would send you running over to Colourpop. These two items are small enough to fit into a backpack inner pocket, which is perfect to maximize space!
  • An awesome attitude. Cheesy, I know, but sometimes con life isn’t always super fun. There are long lines, lots of crowds and uncomfortable outfits. It’s so important to go in with a good attitude and expect some things to not be 100% as planned. This little tip of advice can actually be applied to anything, and is something I’m still training myself to accept.

What did you think of my list? Did I miss anything? Do you pack something you think is absolutely necessary that I missed?
Look forward to more Megacon-centric posts as we get closer to the big weekend!

Convention Friendly Bags

Aside from the perfect convention outfit, you have to take into account the perfect convention bag. You are going to need it to carry all your free swag, aside from all the goodies you’ll be picking up. Plus, it has to be comfortable and help you achieve that geek chic look you strive for – amiright?? I’ve made the mistake of bringing small or weirdly-shaped bags to past cons and have totally regretted it. That’s why I decided to put together a list for you all of some of my favorite convention friendly bags – best part? They are all under $100! Happy shopping, geek girls!

 

Convention Bags

1. Fjallraven backpack ($79.99) | 2. 3D Cartoon backpack ($9.58) | Nintendo backpack ($39.99) | Donut backpack ($19.99) | Cat ear backpack ($13.37)

I love that these bags range from sleek and chic (that Fjallraven bag is so versatile and stylish) to fun and kawaii (that cat ear bag is everything to me right now). Depending on your geek style, any of them could work to complement your convention needs. Plus, some may work in great with cosplays (I’d love to see a Mario sporting that Nintendo bag) and really make you stand out in a crowd.

Which is your favorite?

NYCC 2014 Photo Recap

NYCC was a total blur. I only went for the weekend, and had the most amazing time meeting friends old and new. I have to say I was a bit overwhelmed! I spent both Friday and Saturday walking the exhibit floor, and there was so much to see. Being my first time at NYCC, the main thing I took from the experience was that it was 100% a vendors con. Unlike San Diego, there were no major panels to attend and minimal celebrity draw. Also, there were no stand alone events to attend – all parties were linked to the convention. This meant that there were no network/show parties, which is the complete opposite of SDCC. So what was there left to do? Shop! And shop I did.

[Read more…]

Why Conventions?

With Florida Supercon quickly approaching this week, I thought I’d give my opinion of comic con’s and why I enjoy attending them. Oftentimes people ask me why I go or what I find so fun about them. For those of us submerged in the geeky culture, there is no question, but for others that are unaware, I thought I would shed some light.

The atmosphere at most comic book conventions is very accepting and loving. For many of us geeks, expressing ourselves fully is not always an option. Either we do not know people with similar interests or in my case, our busy schedules get in the way of being a full-time fangirl/boy. At conventions, we are free to be ourselves and embrace full blown geekery 24/7. It’s truly a thing of beauty. I have yet to meet someone at a convention that judged others or was not 100% smiles. There is full freedom of expression, and honestly, there are very few places or events that can say the same. It’s almost like being at a huge geeky frat party (sans high-levels of douche).

For those that are a little less apt to approach others, I feel like a convention opens doors to better socialization. You are less likely to feel intimidated to compliment someone when you are both wearing Doctor Who shirts, right? I mean, right off the bat, you know someone shares a similar interest, which is always the most difficult aspect to pinpoint when chatting up a stranger. With the bigger conventions, you are also able to meet some of your favorite vendors and artists. This is personally one of the highlights of my con experiences! You can read about all the amazing people I met at MegaCon here.


Finally, you get to shop till you drop! Conventions are prime real estate for geeky memorabilia you can’t find elsewhere most of the time. Depending on the size and popularity of the convention, you can find some pretty amazing vendors, like my personal favorite, We Love Fine! Since it is a special event, they also tend to throw in either discount for current purchases or future ones, or have exclusive items that you will only be able to find at that particular convention. Definitely something to get excited about!

So there you have it: some of the reasons I love convention season!
If you feel the same, I hope to see you this weekend! I’ll be cosplaying for the first time, so make sure to say hi if you see me!