EPBOT

... there was only one clear choice.

GRINCH IN LEDERHOSEN.
This look is so hot this season.

Which is why I can't wear fur in this 85 degree heat, and decided on more of a Grinchy cos-bound.

This took more work than I expected, so I'll link you everything I used at the end of the post. Also keep scrolling, because I have LOTS more party costumes coming up!

Here's a better reference for the embroidery I tried to match:

Aaaaand here's my finished look!

Don't worry, this isn't a Christmas post. Yet. Even John and I need some down time, so we've been catching up with friends, cleaning house, and in John's case, practicing Low Fodmap stews. (Y'all have any favorite recipes? We have both fake onion & fake garlic, so I think we can modify most regular recipes. Help!)

We also started watching Rings of Power, and while I'm not usually a drama person and can't handle much violence or darkness, WOW IS IT GOOD. The visuals are so stunning they even surpass the movies(!!) and the cast is phenomenal.



It's definitely gotten more intense by episode 3, though, so we may have to start spacing these out with Disney movies for balance, ha. Can anyone tell me if the violence level gets worse from here?

Right, 'nuff chit chat, lemme bring you some genuine CONTENT.

 I bring you my latest two obsessions:

First, What the Art Teacher Wore.

Cassie is a jolt of joyful caffeine in my feed, and the moment I discovered her through a friend I spent over an hour watching every single one of her outfit posts. Cassie just finished an entire month of amazeballs Halloween outfits, but lemme start you off with a cheerful rainbow ensemble:

Happy Tuesday, adventurers! I come bearing treasure from the distant wilds of the spidery inter-webs.

Also this photo of a yard here in Florida:

It's done! THE BANGING IS DONE.

::chair dancing::

Ahh, sweet, blissful silence.

Yep, as of yesterday afternoon we have a brand new roof that looks exactly like our old roof, except this one has that exciting new feature that makes all the money in your bank account disappear.

::sour deadpan stare::

But enough about my boring roof. Let's talk about Daya's daughter and these creative problem solving skills:  



Bahaha!

THE FACE. That is the face of a drama queen who has been bested but doesn't know how to process her defeat, y'all. Brilliant. Maybe next we have to transport Eva I should put her in a onesie, and then John and I can carry her around on a pole. (Don't worry, I won't. Probably.)

Oh right, I skipped the part where I tell you I'm sharing more of my favorite Foe finds today! It's been a little while, so let's throw back to Anna's INCREDIBLE Christmas tree dragon, Myrrhtle:

I was captivated with this build from Anna's very first post asking for construction tips, and the end result does NOT disappoint.

A gorgeous rainbow dragon AND a punny hashtag? BE STILL MY HEART. Head to Anna's post to see the rest of her finished photos.

*****

 I know you're going to love Jordan's choice of wedding venue:

This is at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. If you've never been, put this magical place on your bucket list; it's a combination museum/theater, and includes the entire Sesame Street & Muppets gang in their exhibits, along with screen-used characters from Labyrinth, the Dark Crystal, and more. Here's my photo tour from the year they had an entire area dedicated to Labyrinth, it was INCREDIBLE.

Jordan, I hope you'll share more wedding photos when you have them; I'm dying to know how the ceremony/reception was set up!

*****

Remember a couple years ago when the Queen wore a green dress and everybody was photoshopping dogs and pizza onto her outfit?

WELL... (I'm already laughing)... look what Mindy did:

It's Friday and my panic's up, booo. Probably just my hormones having their monthly Kylo Ren moment, but trying to explain that to the screaming ferret in my brain doesn't seem to help.

You know what does help? After taking the appropriate meds?

THESE TIKTOKS.
(If you don't see the videos after a few seconds try refreshing the page; sometimes they get stuck loading.)

@blueferret_cos If you’re at ALA come say hi!!! #encanto #mirabelcosplay #encantocosplay #disney #disneycosplay #bruno ♬ The Family Madrigal - From "Encanto"/Chorus - Stephanie Beatriz & Olga Merediz & Encanto - Cast

@dustymdouglas prairie dog theatre 🎭 #shakespeare #romeoandjuliet #prairiedog #foryou ♬ prairie dog theatre - Dusty Douglas

@officialcinetv #snlsketch #impressions #impersonation #voiceimpressions #movieactor #snlfunny #foryoupage #comedycentral #comedian #comedy #rossmarquand #voiceactor ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

John sent me a bunch of these, btw, so he gets some credit. I only log in to TikTok a couple times a month, and every time I have about 50 forwarded links from John. (Forwarding funny links is the "flower and chocolates" of our time, am I right?)

I think I've shared Parkour Cat before, but it may be my favorite TikTok ever. I simply can't NOT laugh every time I see it. (I tried once, and strained something.) 

Happy Friday, you ferocious firecracker! Have you smiled yet today?

If not, I got you:

Last weekend John and I visited our first ever Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo. These lighted festivals are apparently all the rage in zoos across the U.S. but I'm told ours is an especially snazzy example. Even better, this particular exhibit, "Into The Wild," travels! So some of you have seen these exact displays in your state, and some of you might see them soon. I love that, really spreads the joy around.

If you can't watch the video where you are right now, never fear; I also have photos, and there's so much more to see! I tried to video the ones with a lot of motion, but I took regular pics for the rest.

A line of giant candy-colored snails greeted us in the parking lot. Peep that reflection in the pond!

The entry is flanked by these froggy friends:

If you saw my video, you know they blink! ("JOHN, THEY BLINK!! YES I KNOW I'M BEING TOO LOUD.") Going in I only expected a few static displays, so this was my first inkling that we were in for something special.

The narrow entry path was flanked by lighted cacti, snakes, and even a giant scorpion and spider. This iguana was my favorite, though:

You know, later. In your nightmares.

And now, in the spirit of one of my favorite Facebook groups, Weird and Wonderful Secondhand Finds, all me to present my favorite findings of the day.

Starting with this Wonder Bread-themed clown head gumball machine, because even just putting all those words together is a work of art.

I waited 'til he wasn't looking to take the photo.

::evil grin::

I don't know if it's supposed to be Wonder Bread themed, but if not that's a wild coincidence:

 Maybe the gumballs were bread flavored.

And now that you're making that face, here's a black velvet painting of an alicorn flying over Saturn:


Once you notice that wing placement, it's all you see.
(There's a "butt-flap" joke in here somewhere, I just know it.)

I have no memory of taking this next photo, so it's like a little gift to myself from past Jen: