VidCon 2012

VidCon 2012 was...overwhelming. There were more than twice the amount of attendees than the previous year, the location moved from a hotel to a vast convention center, and the list of things to do was impossible. It's not to say I did not have fun. It was just...different.

Industry day was fun and informative as the year before. However, due to my new job in the online video world, I found myself taking less notes since I knew more this time around. The reception was bigger and full of more people. I hung out with old friends and made some new ones as well. It was not a bad start to the weekend.

The Maker booth was huge this year, I was expecting it though since I had been in the VidCon meetings for months. I wish I had gotten more photos, it was defiantly the booth with the most things to do.

On Sunday night, during the final concert, I slipped away for a bit to attend the Maker VidCon After Party. Some of my co-workers that didn't have passes were there and I chatted up a few people I had not got a chance to before. It was a really nice party.

The rest of the photos I have were from the Secret Show and Disney Day. The Secret Show was a small concert thought up by a few young musicians who did not make the cut for the official VidCon open mic. They created their own show and even got a room for it. I'm so proud of them. There are more photos on my Flickr.

Thanks for reading!

I check into my VidCon hotel tonight so you probably won't see any new blog posts till Monday (at the earliest)

I plan to take way more photos this year so look forward to those later next month.

J.

More VidCon memories:
2011 Photos
2011 Videos
More 2011 Videos
2012 Videos

July Report Card

I know tomorrow is the last day of July, but OI'll be honest with you: I am not getting anything done tomorrow that's not work. I'm checking into the Anihiem Hilton for VidCon and starting my mini vacation. That's why I am writing up my report card today. It's for this goal thing one of the blogs I read, She Learns as She Goes, does monthly. Welp, lets see how I did!

Get Ready For VidCon | A

asdfghjkl;! I am ready (for the most part) to go to VidCon! As I just said, tomorrow I check into the hotel and won't get home till Sunday night. I am beyond excited. I have everything ready, I just need to pack it all.

Jim's Birthday! | A+

Like I said before in the progress report, it was great! I love him so much.

Add To My Shop | C

I actually decided to wait to add things to my Storenvy shop till after VidCon. I want to be able to promote them and ship them in a timly manner if someone wants them right away. So next week I'll get going on this.I'm giving myself a C for this since I did decided to change this goal.

Get Back Into YouTube | A+
I have been a lot more inspired this month and feel as if my videos are getting better. I posted a channel trailer video that I like well enough. I think that will be something I do continue to update from time to time. I also have started planning future videos and I am really excited to share them with the world!

Finish Reading A Casual Vacancy | F

Nope. I could take this time to read you off a list of excuses but instead I won't. I did read a bit of it...but it's just not a page turner for me.

Overall Grade | B-
I'm pretty disopointed, the not reading really brought me down. I'm not sure if I'll do this every month, but it was pretty helpful I think. 

J.

11 Questions

 I was tagged by the lovely Angie of My So Called Chaos to participate in 11 Questions.

The Rules: Answer the 11 questions, tag 11 people & let them know, and ask them a new set of questions. I'm not sure if I know 11 bloggers to tag that have not already done this yet, but we'll find out.

How did you get started blogging & what keeps you doing it?

I started to blog back when Xanga and LiveJournal were the best places to blog. I did it because I liked being able to look back at my thoughts. I also blogged about my fandoms and passions and tried to met others who liked the same things. (video making & cosplay mostly) I keep blogging because I kept connecting with others and enjoyed the exchange of ideas.

What do you think makes you unique?

My off beat passions. I love what I love and I'm not afraid to admit it. Even when no one else understands me, I don't give up on my true feelings.

What's your favorite thing about yourself?

My imagination. Creativity has never been difficult for me, in fact I usually have too many ideas and not nearly enough time to do everything my head dreams up.


Where do you see your blog in 5 years?

Full of more projects and art. I'll probably blog about my life as well, I just hope I continue to focus on creating things.

What's the best tip you've ever received about blogging?

Don't expect anyone to care. If you're not blogging for yourself then you will eventually burn yourself out, no matter how big you get. That's not to say you should not set goals and make an effort, but don't do it for the 'fame.'

How does blogging affect your real life and vice versa?
It's a commitment, but it also helps me set real life goals. That could mean actually writing about my real life goals in my blog or it could mean having a plushie, or a drawing, or a video done in time to post it when I planned. And vice versa? The more things I'm doing in my real life the more I have to blog about. It motivates me to be less lazy.


What is something you're actively working toward and how are you getting there?

I'd like to build my YouTube channel. What that means is I'd like to keep getting better at video making, one video at a time. I'm getting there by just going for it with any free time I can afford to dedicate to it. I'm making more content, learning more tech skills, and interacting more with other creators.


What is your absolute beauty must have, and why? 

Sunscreen! It's...important.

If money wasn't an issue, what would you run out and buy right now?

A plane ticket to Japan to visit my sister. She is currently working at Tokyo Disneyland and I really miss her.

What is one beauty tip you feel that everyone should know?

Do what makes you feel beautiful not what others tell you is beautiful. If that's wearing lots of makeup, wear it. If that's wearing no makeup, don't wear it. It's really up to you.

Who's your freebie (if you're married-the one person/celebrity you can cheat with without it being cheating) or you're single, your number one celebrity crush?

Zac Hanson. He's been my celebrity crush since I was 11. (I'm 27, and yes...he's still making music.)

Tagged: (We want to get to know you better!)
Oh So Gawjess
Tasha Plus Boxes
The Owls Den
A Geek in Glasses
The Dusty Attic
Nessbow
Tastes Like Love
Hey Zombot!
Horses of Ares
Little Lady Little City
Paint Smudges


  Be sure to comment below with your link once you're done!
(If I didn't tag you and you want to play-please do!  Just leave me a link so I can see!)

1. What’s the #1 most played song on your iTunes/iPod/Phone/etc?
2. What is your favorite body part?
3. What was one of the best parties you’ve ever been to?
4. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for?
5. If you had to work on only one project for the next year, what would it be?
6. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?
7. What would you name the autobiography of your life?
8. When was the last time you were nervous?
9. What is something you learned in the last week?
10. Name a blog or two you always read.
11. What is your favorite thing about blogging, why do you do it?

New Ad Shop!

I have a new ad shop! From now on my blog ads will be sold though my Storenvy shop. All previous ads bought through Passionfruit will stay up for their run but any future ad purchases should be made through Storenvy. If you'd like me to design your ad for you I will as part of your purchase. I am also still doing ad swaps so let me know if that's more your style. For more info check out my Sponsor page. Thanks for sticking around and lets do business!

Large Ad Space

Each large ad space lasts 30 days and are 200x200 pixels. They are located above all other ads on the right side of the blog. You will get priority slots for guest posts & giveaways and I will feature your blog or shop in a 'Sponsor Love' post.

currently booked through July

Small Ad Space

Each small ad space lasts 30 days and are 100x200 pixels. They are located directly below the large ads. I will add a link your blog or shop at the end of the 'Sponsor Love' post.

Click the images to purchase! I also love ad swaps, send me an email if you'd like to swap blog ads!

MagicCatJenny at gmail dot com

VidCon 2012 Videos

Get ready for another trip down VidCon memory lane. I'll get into more detail next week, but VidCon 2012 was very very different from VidCon 2011. Not only was the venue and attendee list longer. The following two videos are the only things related to VidCon 2012 that I uploaded that year. One is my pre-VidCon vlog. (The obligatorily "comment below if you're going to VidCon!" video.) The other contains footage from the weekend. It's an interesting take on a re-cap video. You'll see.





Thanks for watching!
Stay tuned next week for the photos!
J.

Last Four Nails

 You thought I forgot about this little series, didn't you? Nope! There is no way I was able to keep up with painting me nails each week, but I still do it when I can. I always like wearing rings a lot more if my nails are painted for some reason. Anyways, here the last four times I painted them. Be sure to let me know which look you like best. If you would like to see them on Instagram before I post them here, be sure to follow me @MagicCatJenny

More nail posts:  [x] [x] [x]

Thanks for reading!
J.

Mid-July Progress Report

 July is halfway over and I know this is going up a few days past the midway point, but I'm just so busy! It's a good kind of busy though. I started blogging for IGGPPC and Wonderly and I reached 1,000 subscribers on YT. It's just been and eventful month.

Get Ready For VidCon

I went shopping for some new threads for the con. I decided to nix the idea of getting new business cards but I am going to make some buttons to give out to my subscribers. (As I mention in the video I posted today, ha-za!) Hotel plans are for the most part square, I just need to pay my roomie. Things I still need to do are buy some healthy snacks, buy some not-so-healthy energy substances, review the agenda and make panel decisions, plan the CalNerdCon meetup, and pack. I'm so excited!

Jim's Birthday!

It was so great! He basically got two parties. The day before his birthday was his good friend Vince's birthday. So when midnight struck, we all tosted to Jim (and Scott, another birthday buddy!) Then on the night of the next day his family came over. We ate dinner out and then we all hung out at our apartment. (Most of his family had not seen our apartment yet.) Jim got a cake I made him and lots of great presents. It was a blast!

Add To My Shop

I still need to add stuff to my Storenvy shop! There's also a contest over at IGGPPC for creating merch and selling it on Etsy. I know I don't do much with my Etsy shop these days since it's only loosing me money, but I might use this contest thing as an opportunity to get it up and running again. Maybe.

Get Back Into YouTube
Ok, future Jenny, please please please do not wait till after work on Wednesday to start filming a video for Thursday! I have so many ideas for YT but since I'm at work for 9 hours 5 days a week it's so hard to put in the time. Weekends are great but they fill up fast. (I do have friends, I know it's surprising.) I'm not giving up though. I just need to find more YouTubey friends who like making videos. Come on LA, lets do this!

Finish Reading A Casual Vacancy
I've been reading it. See, I'm in the background of my own video reading it! (No one's commented on the double me yet...I find that funny.) I don't know if I'll get through it before VidCon but I'm going to make a better effort this week.

More VidCon 2011 Videos

So I guess I have more videos to share with you from VidCon 2011. I hope you enjoy watching them, there are much less from the following year, but I do enjoy looking back at that fist experience.

VidCon 2011 Photos
VidCon 2011 Videos





I have a feeling that this year the videos will focused more on friends and less on filming what's going on on stage.

J.

Blogging for Wonderly!

Surprise, I'm doing a another monthly feature! This one is at the Wonderly blog and it's about fandoms.  My first post is about the differeance between being a fan and being part of a fandom.  Check it out here, enjoy!

J.

 

VidCon 2011

My first VidCon. It was an extremely exciting experience for me, one I don't think I'll ever be able to replicate. I was still a fresh fan of many YouTube channels and still in awe of the weird world of online video. I was new to the culture and found most my peers in an age group ten years younger than me. It was strange but kind of like going to Disneyland for the first time in your 20s. Most of the other 20-somethings were jaded but the kids were not. I felt like a kid at VidCon.

At the very start of VidCon I actually made friends, friends my age surprisingly. I recall eating cupcakes Katie brought and then Ryan bought me a beer at the hotel lobby bar. Neil took a look at my camera (and took the above picture) and Derek was our not quite 21 yet friend who befriended us rather than the younger crowd.  Industry Day, with it's networking and panels about new media, made me feel like the young professional I was.

The Community Days (the normal convention/fan days) were everything I expected them to be. I went to meetups, I went to all of the concerts, and I met the YouTubers I wanted to. It was a dream, not unlike my first trip to Comic Con. I was defiantly on the side of the fans but I knew that one day I'd be on the other side in some way. It was odd, but I was so new to it all, all I could do was take it in. That sort of innocence was comforting.

The small venue of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, only 2,500 people, and the newness of it all were what made VidCon 2011 my favorite VidCon so far. These four photos were the only photos I took the entire time. I did take lots of video though. I honestly hope that this year's VidCon will be really fun, there's a few more weeks till it's here and I am already thinking of what to pack. Until then, I'll continue to reminisce about the last two. (Place your bets in the comments for how many photos I took at VidCon 2012!)

VidCon 2011 Videos

Stay tuned for more VidCon photos and videos!
J.

My first post on the Geek Girls Pen Pal Club blog!

I'm doing a monthly feature about YouTube over at the IGGPPC blog and today is my first post! (If you are an Iggle, be sure to friend me there!) It's an introduction to the idea of 'YouTubers.' I talk a bit about my channel and about YouTube in general. Check it out here, I hope you enjoy it!

J.

YouTube Channel Trailer

Today I uploaded my YouTube channel trailer! Channel trailers are a new YouTube feature that serve as an introduction to you and your channel. They are meant to help people get a quick idea if they want to subscribe to your channel. I kept mine short and sweet, so hopefully it will convince new viewers subscribe!


I also reached 1,000 subscribers this month and I am beyond excited about it! Thank you so much if you watch my videos, it means the world!

J.

Happy Birthday Jim!

Happy Birthday Jim! You are one half of my adventure team, partner in crime, life buddy, best friend, love of my life, and I am so lucky to call you mine. You are so smart, talented, kind, and amazing. I hope 27 is the best year yet, I know it will be. I love you so so so much!
Love,
Your forever girl
Jenny

Photo an hour >> June 29th

During the last weekend of June, Jim and I decided to spend the day together and go on a daytime date. I enjoy just spending time with him even if we are not doing anything, but it's nice to go out and have adventures together as well. Adventure!
Past Photo an Hour:
January

February

March

April

May

10am >> Sleeping in is perfect for Saturdays. So is scented candles burning as you shower.

11am >> Self portrait. (I am loving my new haircut!)


12pm >> Rock! Arriving at the LACMA for our date.


1pm >> Stanley Kubrick's camera lenses. I was very happy we got to see his exhibit before it left!


2pm >> Boxed water...
 

3pm >> Rubber forest.
 

4pm >> Full of burgers and ready to go home.


5pm >> On the way home Jim stopped to get a hair cut and I walked around. I almost walked in this shop but I knew I would not be able to leave without buying too much soap.
 

6pm >> The view of our apartment's front steps from our porch.


7pm >> Dinner and TV.

Halfway Through 2013

At the start of the year I made a big post with all of my goals for the year. Since it's half way through 2013, lets see what has been done, abandoned, and still on the horizon.

1. Take a boat ride with Jim.  
This one will happen, it just hasn't yet.

2. See Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Nuart, dressed up.
I hope I get to do this in October. I just need a large group to go with me. =P

3. Eat at 10 new restaurants in LA. - I decided to include bars if I got food there ;)

  1. Sake House By Hikari  B (good sushi, but nothing special)
  2. Jackson Market and Deli  A+ (amazing sandwiches! It's also a way cool convenience store)
  3. Susan Feniger's STREET  A- (loved it, but way expensive)
  4. E K Valley  C (not bad but not great)
  5. The Edison  A+ (such atmosphere! Only had fries for food but the cocktails were great)
  6. Tusquellas Fish & Oyster Bar B (decent fish tacos)
  7. Victor Jr's.  B (pretty good pizza but not my favorite)
  8. Blind Barber A (love the speakeasy/behind an actual barbershop thing & the grilled cheeses are amazing!)

4. Visit the LACMA.
Yes! We did! We also got to see the Stanley Kubrick exhibit and it was my favorite! I was also the day I chose for my Photo an Hour post, so that is coming soon!

5. Visit the MOCA.
Not yet...I hope it happens though.

6. Go on a date with Jim to the Griffith Observatory.
We've talked about this, so hopefully very soon.

7. Re-start 'The Jemima Project'.
Oh boy...I have not even thought about this once. However, I have decided to start a cosplay channel on YouTube. Perhaps that will inspire me...eh.

8. Sell something in my Etsy store or another online selling platform.  
I've mostly given up on Etsy. Nine months and zero sales. I'm keeping it but focusing more heavy on my Storenvy shop. I have at least sold there in the past and it does not cost me anything to list.

9. Be more present in the blogging community & gain more GFC and Bloglovin followers.
At the start of 2013 I had 3 Bloglovin followers. 
Halfway through 2013 I have 71(!) 
This could be partially due to GFC ending but I'm still proud!

10. Take a photo an hour once a month.
January
Febuary
March
April
May
June - done, coming soon!

11. Finish the first book in my 'The London Jellicles' series.
*blink* Ummm...yeah no. This one might be abandoned, we'll see.

12. Read 25 books, 10 new to me.
1. The Hobbit
2. Y: The Last Man, Vol. 7: Paper Dolls
3. Y: The Last Man, Vol. 8: Kimono Dragons
I'm doing real bad on this one. This year has been so busy and after work activities have left little time to just take some time to read. I realize this is something that needs to change in my life and hopefully I can do better during the second half of 2013.

13 . Go to Japan.
 ?????????
I actually have until April 2014 if this is going to happen...so, maybe?

Snow White and Rose Red

Snow White and Rose Red is a German fairy tale most notable retold by the Brothers Grimm. The Snow White in this story is not to be confused by the Snow White who had seven male roommates, they are two different characters. The story is about two sisters, a friendly bear who is really a prince, and an ungrateful dwarf. This was never a tale I knew as a child but I am very fond of it now.


I'm not surprised that for my first attempt at an outfit post/what I wore/outfit of the day sort of thing on this blog I am cosplaying. I have a small collection of wigs and I thought it would be great to portray both characters.

The Snow White in this story is shy and likes reading indoors so I have her wearing a long white lace tunic as a dress with matching white flats. Rose Red, is outgoing and likes the outdoors. I've dressed her in a bold red tunic as a dress and black flats. I wanted both girls to be similar but also very much themselves.

I really wish I had some bear related clothing to add to these looks. (Even just a stuffed bear as a prop.) I guess the next time I see a bear patterned top or a bear pendent I'll have to pic it up. I'm not sure if I really have a favorite fairy tale, but Snow White and Rose Red is a good contender. I find myself relating to both characters and I'm sure you do as well.


 


This post is part of a fairy tale outfit post link-up via. Nessbow. Thanks for letting me be a part of the fun! (and encouraging me to finally make an outfit post...oh lifestyle blog world you are still so new to me.) If you want to see more outfit posts from me, let me know! I am warming up to the idea.

J.

Hamburg Sillabub

Hamburg Sillabub done in September 2007. The white is a bit to thin so I'm guessing this was done with Halloween quality make-up. What I remember from that night is my roommates coming home and being quite surprised, for a second. The brought me Thai food and we hung out as hung out as Sillabub. I bet I was an interesting roommate...

    
 
 

July Resolutions: Let's be Productive, Shall We?

I love being productive and getting things done, however...I also really love my couch and Netflix. This month I want to be better at being creative and using my time wisely. One of the blogs I read, She Learns as She Goes, does a monthly resolution link up and I'm taking part this month. What that means is there's this post (with all the goals), there's a post half way through the month with a progress report, and then a post at the end of the month with the report card. Let's see how I do...

Get Ready For VidCon

VidCon starts on August 1st, so July is my planning month. I'm debating on getting some new business cards made (might not need to) and I need to finalize hotel plans, and lots of other little details. It will be my third time going and I am so excited!

Jim's Birthday!

He does not like making a big deal out of his birthday so celebrating will be on his terms, but that doesn't mean I can't plan a few surprises for him.

Add To My Shop

I have leftovers from the craft fair I have yet to add to my new Storenvy shop. I want to get everything listed and looking pretty.

Get Back Into YouTube
Ok, so to be fair, I never left...per say. I've still been posting every Thursday. I just lost my passion for a while. I have the last episode of LMU'sNTRG-LP to post this Thursday, but after that I need to vlog again. Get real connected again before VidCon.

Finish Reading A Casual Vacancy
I've been so bad at my 25 books a year challenge this year. Last year I managed 10, but I think it'll be even less this year. (Working 9 hours 5 days a week & uploading a video or more a week & blogging at least 3 times a week & running an online shop & running a local nerd meetup & socolizing with other humans regularly...does not help...not that they're excuses.) I at least need to finish this book.