Butterbeer and Shopping

Hey everyone!

So this week, I experimented with something my friend told me about called Butterbeer Latte.

For those of you that don't actually know what Butterbeer is (I feel so bad for you), Butterbeer is a drink from the Harry Potter books/movies. It's described as tasting "a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch". They serve it down in Universal Studios in Florida, in their Harry Potter themed park. I want to try that drink so badly, you have no idea.

But until I go back down to Florida again, I have to make my own Butterbeer.

I really love the way I make Butterbeer, even though most people that try it complain it's too sweet or rich or something (to which I inform them that they are insane, because I do not like sweet things and I freaking love my Butterbeer. ) And I promise, I'll show anyone interested once I actually go out and get the correct ingredients again.

But since I was lacking in the needed ingredients, and I really wanted some Butterbeer, my friend suggested to me a recipe for Butterbeer Latte. It was made completely differently from how I made my version, but she insisted it was good. So I tried it!

I made enough for the boyfriend too. My final verdict? I drank about three sips from it before I had to stop.

It's not that it was bad or anything. I think, for me, it was just that it had too much of a butter flavor, along with the fact it tasted very sweet. Which I don't really like. But, it certainly appeals to some people, because my boyfriend downed his glass, and then helped himself to mine as well!

If you're curious about how to make Butterbeer Latte, continue to see the recipe. If not, go ahead and skip down to below that to see cute things I am really happy about now having.

Butterbeer Latte Recipe

Picture not mine. Picture from haydenrodgers.tumblr.com

I doubled the recipe, since I was making it for two people. And after gathering all necessary ingredients...

I followed the directions, and waited for it to boil.

It appeared pretty yellow on top when it wasn't being stirred, because the butter rises. So don't let that alarm you if you give this recipe a go!

And then it turned out like the first picture you see in this post. The very next day, my boyfriend asked when I was going to make it again, since I apparently got him obsessed with it. But I don't really plan on making it again anytime soon. I think I'll stick to my normal vanilla-caramel latte.

Yummm.

So, moving on...

I went shopping! I wasn't really planning on getting much. I actually only went out to pre-order a video game. Which video game?

The Elder Scrolls Online!

Yeah, I'm excited. I even got the special Imperial Edition, which is only $100. I don't even know how long I'll play the game for, since it's a pay-per-month deal, but I desperately wanted that statue that comes with the Imperial Edition.

My boyfriend was sweet though, and once we got to Gamestop, he insisted that he would pre-order the game for me. So yeah, I'm pretty excited for June 30th.

Then we went to Kohl's, and I found something I've desperately been needing. A new purse!

I'm a huge fan of both bows and floral designs, so when I saw this purse, I knew I had to have it. I'm not a huge fan of zippers, but the other stuff was so cute, I got it anyway. You can get it here, if you're interested too! It's originally $40, but on sale for $25. (Also available in black, which I really want too!)

Now I just need a wallet.

I also got a pair of shoes. I wasn't going to, since I've been wanting to get a pair of shoes at a different store. (Just waiting for a sale!) But these shoes were 90% off, from $75 down to $7.50, so I decided I needed them!

I'm beginning to have an obsession with shoes I think. Younger-me would be so confused, considering in high school I had pretty much one pair of shoes and was perfectly happy that way. Now my closet is full of them. I'm becoming an addict.

And quick pictures of me and my lovely boyfriend. (He was so nice being my photographer, and my model, haha!)

First time wearing my shrug from Steampunk Couture! I'm so crazy in love with it.

Have you ever tried Butterbeer?

A Tour Through my Room - Getting to Know Me

Hey everyone!

I thought for today, I could show you a little bit about me through my room. I think a person's bedroom can show people quite a bit about who they are. So I figured it would be a good way to show you all more about me.

So, first off, I kind of want to show off what I got at Hot Topic.

Remember some posts back, when I created that blog post listing things I liked from Hot topic? I ended up getting one of the things I showed you! (And it just so happened to be the one thing that was not clothing related)

I got the Minecraft Redstone Nightlight! I really love Minecraft, so I'm obsessed with this little block of epicness. It has three different brightness levels that you change by tapping the block. It's all very neat.
It was $30 at Hot Topic but only $15 for me, since I had the $15 off with Hot Cash. I recommend buying it from ThinkGeek though for $20. Ten dollars cheaper is pretty nice, after all!

And you might have noticed the cute little Jack figurine (from Nightmare Before Christmas) standing next to my Redstone. My boyfriend got it in a random pack, but he already had one of those, so he gave this one to me. I love Nightmare Before Christmas, so I was quite happy to get this little guy!

This was a gift from the boyfriend. It was originally his, but he was super sweet and gave it to me instead.  Wondering what's in the box?

Close up of the Key for the box.

I have to admit the first time I opened the box, I was a little startled when this guy suddenly springs forth, tiny daggers poised to attack! It's a wonderful jack-in-the-box, and I absolutely love it.

Do you guys use game guides? (those of you that play video games, anyway). I always buy them, but then never end up using them. Except the one for Animal Crossing. I used that like crazy.

Also, in case you were wondering, the thing on top is an awesome picture frame that my friend made for me years ago. I haven't gotten it on the wall since I moved, but I really need to do that soon!

And perhaps you also noticed my Dungeons and Dragons book set. I don't know what you all think about D&D, but it is absolutely amazing in my opinion. I just never have the group to play it with!

A clock I've had since grade school, I believe. Maybe early middle school. I'm not even sure anymore. It doesn't run, since the battery died. And it doesn't really go with anything in my room. But I'm so attached since I've had it so long that I can't bare to get rid of it.

This is something I really, really love. A very good friend made it for me one year, and I've had it on display ever since. (it's a little dusty currently though. Ack)

The sword is a sword from an anime I've loved for a long time titled 'Kyo Kara Maoh!'. The butterflies are there, because I love butterflies (but I hate them flying near me.)
Then there is a purse with a bow, symbolizing my love of cute fashion like that. An Xbox 360 with controller, since I love the Xbox 360, and finally, a Slytherin scarf, because I love Harry Potter and Slytherin is my favorite house.

I'm even in the Slytherin house on Pottermore! (Yay)

My stack of video games that I don't have a place to put anymore. I desperately need a bookshelf for these things and my books!

My lamp! I absolutely love my lamp. This lamp is sticking with me until either it dies, or I do.

And then this ancient piece of technology. I got this iPod years ago. I'm actually surprised it still works. I have to delete music whenever I want to add more though, because the storage is really low since it's so old. But it still works, so I'm content.

I'm not so content, however, with the stereo system the iPod is sitting in. The buttons to change the songs don't work any longer, I have to press any button ridiculously hard for it to register, and just recently the power button started acting up. Now, instead of turning the system off when I press it, it changes the song.

I don't even understand what's going on with this stereo system anymore. Pretty sure it might be possessed.

Anyway, I hope sharing these things helped you to understand a bit more about me.

What interesting things do you have around your room?

Wearing Wigs - Pastels and Pigtails

Hey everyone!

I hope everyone is warmer than I am. Cold nights are the worst. Sure, at the beginning of winter, I like them. Cozy sweaters, piles of blankets, warmth from the heater, reading blogs while sipping on yummy hot latte....

Nope.

Not anymore. My only 'cozy' sweater managed to develop a rather noticeable problem of unraveling once my dog's claw found it's way through one of the threads upon my return home. (Excited dogs are quite cute, unless it comes to the safety of sweaters, or tights. I've lost quite a few tights this winter to my new puppies as well.)

My pile of blankets has all but been taken over by the dogs as well. The vent in my room doesn't pump out heat very well, and lastly, I read some wonderful blogs while sipping my latte, but am now writing this with a very burnt, very sore tongue.

I am ready for winter to be over.

So, now, while I run my damaged tongue over the back of my teeth repeatedly, for no other reason than it momentarily stops the burning sensation, I am trying to figure out what to say.

I already told myself the next few blog posts were not going to be about art.

So how about wigs instead?

I briefly showed you some of my wigs before, in a previous blog post. But today I decided to throw on my wig cap and look a little more fancy than usual. So you get to see them again. (Yay.)

Actually, after taking these pictures, I find myself wishing I was born blonde. Actually, being born with pastel hair would be ideal. But sadly, science has not come that far yet.

Also, I am really proud of my make up. Please shower me in praise for my luck talent with my eyeliner today, thank you. (And what I really mean is, Please give me tips on how to improve eyeliner. I suck.)

I plan to buy another wig, either at Anime Iowa this year or before. I want a long, curly pink wig this time.

I don't know why I love wigs so much, considering I never actually wear them. But they're a small obsession of mine. Sort of how I like to collect stuffed animals, but those just wind up in boxes in the basement, becoming homes for spiders most likely. (Note to self: Burn stuffed animal collection)

If you could get a wig in any style/ color, what would you get?

Drawing, drawing, more drawing.

Hey everyone!

Sorry I sort of disappeared for a week. What have I been doing? Basically drawing. Drawing and rearranging the house. It was decided that our puppies would lose their bedroom, and that it would be replaced with a movie/gaming room.

Poor puppies, I feel bad for them. But they didn't actually sleep in that room anyway, they just tore up the old rug that we put in there for them, and stayed in there while we were out. So I don't think they actually cared for the room much anyway. (They sleep in bed with me, so they didn't lose their beds or anything.)

But now that room has been all decked out with a tv on the wall (putting a tv on the wall is really annoying. Don't ever do this.), a ps4, and a new laptop (Which will be used to play the Sims 4 on when that finally comes out.) I want the Wii in the room too, but apparently that's not going to happen. Agh.

So after three days of carrying heavy object, I'm exhausted. I want to draw again, but I can't seem to motivate myself enough to do so.
If you read my last blog post, you'll remember that I just bought a new drawing tablet last week. So I've been playing around with that. Ended up drawing this for a friend, of her in her Thor cosplay:

(And non-colored version:)

And then I decided to follow a really neat tutorial I found on deviantART that shows you how to color galaxy eyes. And it's not perfect, but I'm proud enough of it that I decided to show you all:

I'm going to be drawing a lot more in the near future too, since I have things to draw for some of my friends. One has even asked me to draw them their next tattoo. Ack, pressure!

Hopefully I'll be able to tear myself away from my laptop sometime in the next couple days to give you guys a post that's not about my artwork. (Sorry things have been a little repetitive!)

If you do want to keep up to date on my artwork though, you can visit my deviantART page here. Thanks for your support!

If you have a deviantART page, leave it in the comments below so I can check it out! 

My New Drawing Tablet! - The Wacom Intuos

Hey everyone!

I'm super happy today, because I got a really good deal on a brand new drawing tablet! The Wacom Intuos Creative Pen Tablet (small) usually sells for $79. But I managed to get mine for $59.99!

For a limited time, Staples is having a sell on these fantastic tablets, giving you a $20 rebate if you buy one! they're sold out online, so you'll have to check them out at your local Staples if you're interested.

If you're unaware what these things are for, you plug the tablet into your computer, and then whatever you draw on the tablet appears on your computer, if you're using Photoshop, MS Paint, or whatever drawing program you choose. It takes awhile trying to get used to looking at the computer and not at where your pen is moving, but it's not too difficult to get used to.

I had another one, that I bought when I was a Sophomore in high school, I believe. So it's been like 6 years since I got my first tablet. Unfortunately lately it was bugging out quite a bit, and it had scratches from the few times it was left in reach of my dog. So it was time for a new one.

They come in different sizes, but I got the small one, since it's cheapest. Someday, I would really like to get the medium or even large, but we'll see if I can talk myself into buying one so expensive. (The one I really want is $2000. I don't think I'll ever be getting that one. But it's nice, since you get to see what you're drawing right on the tablet!)

I was super excited getting to open it. It was nicely packaged, and I had to do my best not to tear everything part in my excitement to get it it set up!

It's a really pretty design and I really love it. The surface is just slightly rough, so it really feels like I'm drawing on paper, which is fantastic in my opinion. So happy with this purchase already!

I've already started a picture on it, for my friend Bailey. I'm drawing her in her female Thor cosplay she wore last year! Here's my work in progress:

Wish me luck on doing well! Drawing on a tablet feels pretty new to me since I haven't done it in a while. Definitely is going to take a little bit of learning again.

Have you ever owned a drawing tablet?

Stuck Inside All Day? Let's Draw! (Also, Puppies in Sweaters)

Hey everyone!

How cold is it where you live? Here, it's been below zero (and really, really below zero with windchill)  for far too many days in a row. According the weather now, at this moment, it apparently feels like 2 degrees outside at the moment. We made it above zero! Finally!

(If you live somewhere warm, know that I am very jealous of you right now. Let's trade places, yeah?)

So, since it's been so cold out, I've been literally sitting in my bed hiding under the covers for most of this week, usually with a hot mug of latte in my hands. Not being very productive. Both of my puppies have sweaters now, since Meeko seemed so jealous about Zoey's sweater, and I didn't want him to be freezing while he went outside to do business.

I was worried Meeko would hate the sweater, but he seems very content and happy with it on. So yay! I'm almost sad to see the cold weather go, since my puppies are just so incredibly cute in their winter sweaters.

And maybe you noticed, while looking at these pictures, all those blankets on my bed? Yeah, I've been hiding under a lot of blankets the last few days. Eight in total, actually. Three comforters and five sheets. And my toes still somehow end up a bit cold! I don't understand it.

Anyway, being in bed most of this week, besides trying to combat a cold my body seems intent on getting, I've been either surfing the internet or drawing! I haven't drawn in quite sometime, but I figured, being stuck inside, the time was perfect to do so again. I ended up accepting drawing requests from 8 of my friends on Facebook, to try and get me back to focusing more on my art again, since I do enjoy drawing. I was all set and ready to draw those today, and then woke up with a terrible migraine. Ugh.

So I might have to wait until tomorrow to start on those.

But I did manage to get one picture drawn yesterday, though it was just a quick sketch/coloring to get me warmed up for the other pictures, and to practice a little so I could try to ensure the picture I drew for my friends wouldn't suck. And here it is:

She's a character from a story-type thing I'm working on. Her name is Lotus, and she's part angel (thus why she's wielding a large glowy hammer-o-doom). Another picture of her I've drawn recently(ish):

Other pictures I've recently drawn:

( Fan art of Link from Zelda. Does it look like him??! )

(This one gave me a lot of difficulty, since I suck when it comes to hands! I had to look off of a reference.. )

(And here's my original sketch of the first picture I showed you, so you can see what it looked like before I played with it in Photoshop!)

So, what do you think? I really want to improve this year, so I think I'll try to draw at least a couple pictures once per month. (Another thing to add to my monthly goal blog posts, I suppose!)

If you want to check out my artwork, my DeviantArt is located right here: Clicky Click!

I don't have much uploaded onto it at the moment, but more will be coming soon!

Do you draw? If so, I'd love to see your artwork!