Yeah, I get it. Summer in Phoenix is hot. But I think we Phoenicians sometimes give up too early on the great outdoors.
Even in mid-June, the temperatures often still drop at night. And that makes everything so much more bearable. You can still get out early or late in the day to take a walk or sit in the shade. We still get an occasional coolish day. (After it’s been 108, 93 seems quite lovely!)
Just getting away from the city can lower the temp by 10 degrees or so – you don’t have to go far, just away from all that concrete.
There comes a point in the year where it never cools down. It’s how we pay for our gorgeous non-summer days. We get our version of cabin fever, and it gets a bit depressing.
To celebrate Travelcraft Journal’s 1st year and to thank a very supportive group of smart, crafty people, I brought Nutella brownie bites to Craft Hack on Monday.
They were super simple to make. The truth is, with all the Phoenix Comicon craziness over the weekend, I had almost forgotten I was even going to make something. Thank goodness I had pinned this little gem at some point last year.
The recipe calls for just 3 ingredients (4 if you add sprinkles or hazelnuts on top): eggs, flour, Nutella. What I had on hand was actually non-Nutella-brand hazelnut spread that we had decided to try awhile back. Its thinner consistency wasn’t great on toast but turned out to be fabulous for mixing into brownie batter.
I had about half a cup of spread left in my jar, so I halved the recipe. I poured the batter into a mini muffin pan, added sprinkles, reduced the temperature a little and checked them after 15 minutes. The result was 18 delicious little brownie bites.
I was thinking about how you prepare to be at a convention or conference all day. You want to be ready for the long day ahead, but you don’t want to schlep around more than you need.
While I was waiting for a session to start at Phoenix Comicon, I popped open my bag and took a photo. Here’s what was in there:
Water – If it’s not provided, I bring water. If the con is in Arizona, you should bring water either way.
Snacks (not pictured – they were in the front pocket) – When you (I) get hungry and cranky, no one wins.
Sweater – Surprisingly necessary in oft over air conditioned conference rooms, even when it’s 110 degrees outside.
Charger(s) – I generally bring chargers for any electronic devices I have with me. Jonathan Simon had a great idea (which I included in my Phoenix Comicon guide) about bringing a portable power strip, since there are often more hungry phones around than outlets (especially late in the day.)
Glasses case and sunnies – Escaping to the outside world during the day can be nice.
Small notebook and pen – Sometimes it’s just quicker and easier. And super handy if you want to make notes without draining your phone battery (or if it’s already too late).
Purse – I was in a rush, so I just threw the whole thing in – wallet, makeup, tissues, business cards, and whatever other randomness I had in there. But, usually, I’ll pare it down quite a bit.
Flyers – Those just tend to accumulate throughout the day, don’t they?
What’s in your bag when you’re at a convention or conference?
Today Travelcraft Journal turns one! I pubished the first post one year ago today. I was excited about finding and sharing ways to be creative and explore the world around us – even in the midst of real life busyness and constraints. I didn’t know where this little blog project would go, but I felt optimistic. A year later, I am thrilled and grateful at where the journey has already taken me and still excited about what’s next.
Only a few weeks after starting the site, I decided to go to Chicago for the BlogHer Annual Conference. I learned a ton about blogging and book publishing and met so many amazing people, including randomly bumping into one of the founders – twice. In between those two meetings, I had the idea that a session on blog design might be helpful to a lot of people, so I suggested it to her. That topic idea morphed into a mobile design talk at BlogHer Pro that fall. I’ll be speaking again when I return to the annual conference this July.
In the meantime, I talked to a friend about my idea for writing travel books and realized I needed to hone my voice and idea before pursuing it. But it’s still something I plan to do.
After seeing a panel at BlogHer that included the founder of Brit + Co., I started following the creative living site on Twitter. When they tweeted that they were looking for freelance contributors, I submitted an application and began this process that ended up stretching out about two months. Finally, I was accepted as part of the contributor team, and I continue to write for them on food, tech, and DIY topics.
Recently, I launched a newsletter with Travelcraft Journal highlights and free goodies. We were granted our first media pass for Phoenix Comicon. (I know I acted in my last post like it wasn’t a big deal. But I’m actually really proud of it.)
And now here were are, celebrating Year One! Wanna join the party? Enjoy a favorite treat in a favorite place and post a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #tcjturns1. (Or post it elsewhere and link to it in the comments.) If you message me your address, I’ll send you a nifty Travelcraft Journal sticker. Consider it a party favor and a thank you for being part of this community, because, really, you guys rock!
When Phillip first suggested we cover Phoenix Comicon, I wasn’t sure how well that would fit with the whole Travelcraft Journal thing. I mean, yes, this is the home of the sci-fi-reference-riddled holiday party post. But still. We’re about makers and doers, creative people with a “hey, let’s try this!” attitude.
Then I realized: so is Phoenix Comicon. It’s filled with people responding creatively to what they’ve read or watched, who make their own costumes or miniatures or films or chain mail or sketches, who’ve travelled to learn more about something they’re passionate about. Which is super Travelcraft Journally.
So we requested press passes, researched, and started planning posts. I’ve never been to any of the events in the Comic-Con universe, so I reached out to some veterans about what a newbie needs to know to navigate the 5th largest Comic-Con in the U.S., which is happening next week. Here’s their sage advice, along with a few of my own newbie observations.
Phoenix Comicon can be overwhelming, so don’t even try to do it all. See what you can, have fun, but it’s okay to miss things. That’s just going to happen. Make time to try something brand new! Take advantage of a few thousand die-hard fans being around you to stick your nose into a topic you’ve maybe been curious about and see where it leads you. Walk away from Con with a whole new set of loves!
Check out the panels (genre-specific events hosted by individuals) that are going on and tentatively plan on attending some. But don’t be afraid to change up your plans if you discover something else you want to see.
Have a game plan. Phoenixcomicon.com helps by letting you make an account and add panels you’re interested in to your “ConQuest.” This puts them on a schedule that makes it much easier to look at.
The website only shows you events by category and does not have a daily calendar. If you like to see things blocked out by day, try and get to the Convention early so you can look over the schedule.
Check out the Phoenix Ultimate Geek Smackdown the first two nights of Con! It’s where geeks from all angles converge to hash out some of the most important and ridiculous topics you’ve ever heard. It’s a rocking good time and guaranteed to get you into the Con spirit!
Ryan DeFusco. Photo: Phoenix Comicon 2013.
2. Gearing Up
Ryan DeFusco:
[The first time I attended Phoenix Comicon] I wish I had brought a change of clothes. My costume wasn’t too uncomfortable, but my wig kept slipping out of place and I desperately wanted to take it off.
Jill Rouleau:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. No, really, however cute those boots are, wear comfortable shoes. It’s ok to not dress up in costume. No one will think you’re weird or less of a geek. It’s also super cool if you do dress up! Don’t be scared that your costume won’t be “good enough” if it’s your first time costuming, what matters is that you have fun.
Jason Hunt:
Carry cash. If you are a collector or find something interesting that you want to buy, it always helps to pay in cash. Some sellers have the ability to take cards, but those rely on mobile devices and usually have problems getting through. Get cash from your hotel’s ATM and save your credit/debit cards for offsite food purchases.
Put your money in your front pocket. Not to get all paranoid on you, but there will be a lot of strangers carrying cash wandering around bumping into each other. Best keep your dead presidents somewhere a little more in your line of sight.
Keep your phone charged and ready. Photos aren’t just for posing with cosplayers – you never know what might happen or what you might find that you want to remember later. (Bonus: Bring a power strip to share an outlet and be everyone’s hero.)
Be respectful and ask before taking someone’s picture.
Take time off if you start to feel overwhelmed. There’s some great places to grab a bite or a beer downtown. You’ll thank yourself for the break later in the day.
Jason Hunt:
If you’re going with a group that wants to split up, have a designated time and area to meet. DO NOT rely on cell phones, because all the signals in one area tend to clutter up the local cell phone towers.
Jeff Moriarty:
Go all in! If you think there is some fun, weird, or quirky thing that you’re into that nobody else loves as much as you…you’re wrong! This is the place to let yourself go, share whatever form of geekery you delight in, and connect with others who enjoy it just as much as you.
Jonathan Simon sums it up with this handy infographic:
(For even more great advice, check out the Lightning Octopus site and its readers’ comments.) Now I’m ready to take on Comicon! A big thank you to Jason, Jeff, Jill, Jonathan, and Ryan for sharing so much awesome info! If you see me wandering around the Convention Center, please say hello. (I may be lost.) If I survive the weekend, I’ll tell ya all about it and share some cosplay awesomeness. Tune in next time or subscribe to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
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