Star Wars Resistance & Fan Opinions

I've been excited for Star Wars Resistance ever since it was announced. I'm just that kind of fan. I get excited about EVERYTHING Star Wars! Even if there's content that I don't particularly love as a whole there's always something that I find that I truly enjoy and I like to practice focusing on the aspects of what I love the most here on my blog and social media. I screw up sometimes, as we all do. But in my own experience I find that praising the things I love consistently rather than constantly speaking negatively about what I don't like is so much more fulfilling. With all the Star Wars content that is currently being curated there just might be a day where something is released and I 100% don't like it. That's ok. It's what I choose to do with my feelings and opinions towards it that matters. I imagine that I would just move along and do what I do now. Geek out and promote the content that I do love!

Up until this morning news pertaining to the Resistance cartoon has been on the quieter side. The one minute trailer debuted and I immediately stopped what I was doing to watch it. I found the art style to be simple but beautiful and I appreciated the fact that it was unlike anything we've seen before in the Star Wars Universe though I will tell you that I was more fond of the background art and ships more than the character art (BB-8 though! Adorbs!). However, I definitely can see it growing on me! My eyes lit upon seeing familiar faces like BB-8, Poe Dameron and possibly a quick shot of Captain Phasma. Now, as much as I promote positivity in the Star Wars fandom I think there are appropriate ways to say what you think about something honestly and respectively. So, here are my current concerns regarding Resistance: The idea that I perceived of the story in that short minute wasn't especially interesting to me. I didn't feel much after watching it. I also wasn't exactly fond of the character interaction and the dialogue. However, I must say it again. IT WAS A MINUTE LONG. A minute of footage from a brand new TV series with a 1 hour premiere.

As these thoughts ran through my head I was browsing through my Twitter feed and noticed some interesting conversations happening. Which should come as no surprise to you if you frequent Twitter on a daily basis like I do. Discussions were being had that cartoons in general are for kids. Are there cartoons targeted towards younger audiences? Absolutely. But not all of them are. To me, Resistance does feel that way so far but so did The Clone Wars (this show gets pretty deep and rather dark) and Rebels for a lot of people at first but a good portion of those fans now have a deep connection with those shows. I think it makes sense to give this show which is part of something I know a lot of you hold dear to your heart is worth it. But that's just my opinion ;)

There were also mixed reviews on the look of the show which is to be expected as we all appreciate art differently but the one topic I found the most profound were conversations people were having saying people shouldn't have opinions on the trailer. Having an opinion about the trailer is different from letting that opinion dictate whether you think it's a bad show or not (perhaps that is the point they were trying to make?) We can't rightfully judge a show in its entirety based on such little content made available to us, can we? I personally can't base what I think of the show on that alone. You're either going to love it and find it difficult to wait until the next episode which is great! Or you're going to discover that it's not your cup of blue milk and refrain from watching it. Also great! It's up to you to choose what to do with your opinion that you most definitely should have and probably won't be able to stop from having. We're human. We're going to have feelings and thoughts about the content we intake. I would just suggest to choose wisely. There could be something in your life that you're missing out on because you let your opinion make up your mind for you before you tried something new out.

I choose to give it a shot! Are you with me?

Resistance debuts on Sunday, October 7 (10 p.m. EDT/PDT) on the Disney Channel, DisneyNOW, and Disney Channel VOD, with subsequent airings on Disney XD. For more information, please see this post on the official Star Wars website.

Funko Pops: In Box Collector vs. Out of Box Collector

Way before Funko Pops even existed I collected Star Wars action figures. A LOT of them. I started off by opening each one I acquired (these mostly consisted of various versions of Han, Luke and Leia) and then I suddenly stopped doing it that way. I think I liked the idea of keeping them in the best shape possible and also really enjoyed how they were presented in their colorful cardbacks as different waves were released. Overall as a collector I would pick and choose what stayed in the box and what would come out depending on what it was. It really just comes down to personal preference.

When Funko Pops came around I approached collecting these new and adorable figures the same way I did with action figures. To this very day I've always appreciated the overall presentation and even though I might not be able to see every detail of the character the majority of the time I feel like it's fairly easy to observe the character and be satisfied. The box also makes for a nice display with the character artwork and the iconic Star Wars logo and name of the character on the front. I know for some collectors the number of the Funko Pop is a huge deal but to me it's just a number though I do think it's part of the packaging and that it would look strangely odd without it. Last but not least, I really love the Funko Pops that have the "Exclusive" or "Chase" stickers on them and if I were to open those ones it totally defeats the purpose of the sticker because at that point why would I need to keep the box? I'm not one for storing empty boxes.

Keeping them in the box also makes dusting them much easier. The majority of my Funko Pops are in the box (I'll get to that in a minute) while my husband Jason's aren't. It takes more time to dust them properly since we don't have them in a case. I also like keeping them in the box because they are much easier to display this way and I actually like the way they look stacked though I've never gone more than two rows high.

When Jason got his first Funko Pop and wanted to open it I cringed. It felt so wrong. Funny thing is, he collected some action figures as well and surprisingly preferred them in their original cardbacks. I decided to pick at his collector's brain...

Q: Why do you open your Funko Pops?

A: That's what they're for. You can't see them when they're in the box. Why would you by something you want to look at but can't because it's in a box? That's like buying a movie on Blu Ray and you don't open it to watch it.


Q: What about your Star Wars actions figures that you collected and kept in the box?

A: Those are for playing with but I didn't play with toys at that age. So, I bought those to collect not to use.


Q: So, Funko Pops aren't toys?

A: No. They're for looking at. That's how you use them. They're statues not toys. I don't collect Funko Pops, I use them.

Amused much? It's ok. I also found it funny but probably more so because he didn't have to think about anything I asked him. He knew exactly what he thought concerning this matter and why. And I fully understand why he collects the way he does. Or apparently "uses" when it comes to Funko Pops.

Nowadays I actually do love seeing the figures outside of the packaging because I'm able to appreciate every detail of the mold. Funko does a phenomenal job! When the first Ahsoka Tano Funko Pop from Star Wars Rebels was released Jason told me to be sure to purchase two because he couldn't not open it if I just came home with one. We did the same thing with the new Ahsoka Tano Funko Pops from The Clone Wars. Call us crazy but it's nice to have one that's in its original form of packaging and another to appreciate and display in a different way. We've only ever done this with the Ahsoka figures because she is second on both of our lists of favorite Star Wars characters.

If you watch our Smuggler's Bounty Unboxing videos than you also know that whenever a larger Funko Pop is included, we unbox them. I've never had a problem opening these ones due to the boxes being so large that they take up so much space and the fact that I personally think they look so much better displayed outside of the box. I've also opened my Porgs and our Christoper Robin Funko Pops because they were too cute looking to keep them inside. They're actually even cuter outside of the box and, you know, we are all about the cute factor. And yes I do collect other Funko Pops here and there that aren't in any way related to Star Wars.

I hope you enjoyed this insight on how and why we collect the way we do and seeing photos of how we have "some" of our Funko Pops set up. Don't worry if you ever wondered what it would be like to live with someone who collects differently from you! It can work out if you respect each other's different ways of collecting and be open to finding something to appreciate about the way your family member, friend or significant other goes about it.

So tell me, how do you collect? Leave a comment below or send me a Tweet!

Heading to Nerdbot-Con 2018

I've been given the opportunity to cover the Nerdbot-Con at the Pasadena Convention Center in California on Saturday, September 22nd this year! That's right, this girl got a press pass! I will be keeping both of my eyes open for awesome Star Wars fashion, collectibles and cosplays that you must see! I'll also be covering any Boba Fett related material that I come across for the The Boba Fett Fan Club.

Nerdbot-Con is a one day nerd culture and cosplay convention with over 120 vendors, celebrity guests and more! Tickets are $18 prior to the event and $22 at the door.This is their third year holding the event and it's said to be the biggest one yet! Children under the age of 12 are free with an adult ticket purchase. Get your tickets here and check out their official press release for more information.

I'll see you there!

Where to Buy The Clone Wars Funko Pops

Back in June Funko announced that The Clone Wars Funko Pops that fans have been requesting for what has seemed like forever would finally be released this Summer! In my opinion, I think that Funko did a remarkable job with the character likeness, as they typically do. The only one that I'm not extremely fond of is Yoda. I think he looks like a mean ol' grumpy alien. That's not the Yoda I know!

Cad Bane was the first to debut at San Diego Comic Con and as a shared exclusive at Hot Topic. If you have yet to get your hands on this ruthless Bounty Hunter, act fast! Convention exclusives that are in high demand don't stay around for very long. If you're unable to find him at your nearest store you can order him for $15.00 on their website and have him shipped for free to your local store.

UPDATE: Hot Topic stores received a last minute memo stating not to release their Exclusive Ahsoka Tano Funko Pop until Thursday, August 16th. However, she is available to order online and so are the other figures from the line (except for Yoda) right here.

The next figure to be released is young Ahsoka in her action-ready pose! She is a Hot Topic exclusive and will be released this Wednesday, August 15th in stores for $12.50. Usually Hot Topic exclusives are made available online the night prior to the release between 9:00-9:30 pm pst. Here is the place holder link to order her online thanks to May The Funko Be With You! Don't forget to use the free ship-to-store option if you have a Hot Topic location near you!

The remainder of the wave which includes teen Ahsoka with both of her lightsabers, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda "had" a release date of August 29th according to Gamestop but they have suddenly become available. I've actually seen some Instagram posts of collectors already acquiring these figures! Obi-Wan and Yoda are currently still in stock on Gamestop's website for $11.99 each.

You can also pre-order these figures for $10.99 each on Entertainment Earth where they are currently listed with a tentative shipment date of September.

I've also found them on Amazon for $10.99 each with a release date of August, 28th.

If you're in the UK, here's two places you can currently order all of these except for Cad Bane and the Hot Topic Exclusive Ahsoka...

Pop In A Box has them listed for at £9.99 for pre-order with an August release date. Forbidden Planet also has them listed for pre-order for the same price and states that the figures will be in their warehouse by August 30th.

Besides Gamestop, collector's seem to have also found these new Funko Pops at specialty stores like The Perky Nerd. So just keep an eye out! According to the similar release dates on various websites, I'm sure by the end of the month/beginning of September we'll start seeing them at places like Target, Hot Topic and BoxLunch. If you're like me, it might be better to wait and find them in stores if you're particular on paint jobs and the mintness of the box.

I will be purchasing all of them except for Yoda. What about you?

The Empire Strikes Back Mystery Minis HUGE Unboxing

Funko's Mystery Minis figures are probably my second favorite after their Pop! line. I love a good blind box and the size and design of these mini bobble head vinyls are just too cute for me to say "no" to. Late last month their newest Star Wars Mystery Minis began hitting BoxLunch and Hot Topic which is where I picked mine up from. This series is dedicated to The Empire Strikes Back, my favorite of the Original Trilogy! There are twelve characters to collect as well as nine exclusives that you could pull from various retail stores.

My mom, sister and I grabbed an entire case and then some and filmed an unboxing video! Did we get any rare figures? Exclusives? You'll just have to watch the video below to find out! Let me know in a comment below or in a Tweet if you picked these up and which characters you got.

These Mystery Mini figures are $7.90 each at BoxLunch and Hot Topic. BoxLunch always has a "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" deal on everything $10 and under and Hot Topic often runs promotions as well. I have yet to see them online or in stores at Gamestop or Target.

Star Wars OOTD: Casually Geeky

(Full Size)


(Full Size)

What I Wore:
Necklace: ThinkGeek
Hera Pin: Squadron Goals
Any Day Tank: Target
Wild Fable Skirt Target (Plus Size Link)
Franco Sarto Heels: Nordstrom Rack
Backpack: Loungefly
A New Day Sunglasses: Target


(Full Size)


(Full Size)

Once and a while I like my Star Wars fashion to be on the more minimalistic side. I knew that this gorgeous Galactic Necklace ($39.99) which is an official licensed product from ThinkGeek would be the perfect piece to create a casual geeky outfit. My friend Savanna from The Dorky Diva gifted it to me and I absolutely love it! It's fun knowing I'm donning several iconic planets and ships from the Star Wars Universe on a delicate three strand, silver-plated necklace. My favorites? Why the TIE Fighter and Death Star of course!

(Full Size)


(Full Size)


(Full Size)

I styled this outfit with a simple tank from Target from a collection called A New Day. I own several of these for the quality and comfort! I wore it tucked in to a new corduroy skirt in a lovely magenta shade which I picked up from Target last week. Hot tip ladies! Target has a brand new collection of 90's inspired clothing called Wild Fable that you have to check out! I bought several pieces that I absolutely fell in love with including this skirt which was only $20. I spotted many of these pieces in plus sizes online too!

You may have noticed a Hera pin that I added to my skirt. I thought it would be a fun and unexpected way to wear a pin that might inspire you to do the same or come up with your own idea! I really like how the colors of the pin complimented the rest of the outfit. This beauty is by my friend Courtney of Squadron Goals. She makes some of my absolute favorite Star Wars accessories ever and this series of heart pins featuring leading ladies of Star Wars is super cute! You can order your own Hera pin for $12.00 right here.

To top the look off I wore a pair of Heels by Franco Sarto to dress things up a bit, my favorite Star Wars Loungefly Backpack (read more about it on this post) and a new pair of Cat Eye Sunglasses ($14.99) also from Target and also by the A New Day collection. All of their sunnies have 100% UVA and UVB protection.

(Full Size)


(Full Size)

I hope you enjoyed this new Star Wars OOTD! As always, I will share "Outfit Outtakes" from time to time on my social media pages and exclusive photos on my Patreon page. Be on the look out!

*For reference, I'm wearing an Small in the tank and an X-Small in the skirt.

Smuggler's Bounty: Revenge of the Sith Unboxing

This month's Smuggler's Bounty box includes exclusive merchandise from our favorite movie of the Prequel Trilogy, Revenge of the Sith! The Funko Pop in this box is INSANE and the other items are fun and unexpected. This was the last time this box would be sent out in the mail as a subscription which I will personally miss as I love receiving packages. But don't worry, if you enjoy Smuggler's Bounty as much as I do the box WILL continue on but as a retail store exclusive that Funko has yet to announce. Watch our unboxing video below and let me know in a comment below or in a Tweet if you also got this box and what your favorite item was!

Smuggler's Bounty is the only official Star Wars subscription box by Funko. The next box will be available in September and the theme has not yet been announced.

Disclosure: This Smuggler's Bounty box was provided by Funko. All opinions are 100% our own.

Playing "Secrets of the Empire" with Anxiety and A Queasy Stomach

When Secrets of the Empire, a hyper-reality experience from Lucasfilm, ILMxLAB, and The Void, first opened in 2017 at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California I asked friends on Twitter who had played it what it was like. Everyone gave it the highest praises and explained that since you're able to walk around and move freely while wearing the headset and gear they didn't experience any nausea. My husband Jason and I own a Playstation VR and most of what I've played I've been ok with but there have been some instances where I've needed to stop because the motion sickness I was experiencing while sitting there was too much for me to handle. I'm extremely sensitive with any sort of movement. Even driving on a windy day and feeling it move against the car makes me feel sick. So this was one of the reasons I was nervous to try out this new virtual reality experience because I personally feel like my sensitivity to motion is much greater than the average human being. I was also anxious because it was something new and I don't typically do very well trying new things. However, after booking our session I didn't do too badly over the next few days waiting for the big day to approach. I actually did feel quite excited!

"The VOID is a whole-body, fully immersive experience, with you, your friends and family physically inside the action. It’s location-based entertainment – that means you visit one of our locations – and you walk into real-time virtual reality that combines interactive sets, real-time effects and amazing technology."

Up to four people can play at one time and since it was just Jason and I playing we were hoping we'd be able to have the room to ourselves. Let's just say the force was definitely with us! Upon arriving we were warmly greeted, given wristbands, and asked to sign a waiver. During this time was when I felt the most anxiety. I heard loud noises coming from the other room where people were playing and we were about to go in so my heart was racing much faster than normal. After signing they explained the rules of the game to us and I also took the time to ask them what to do if I felt anxious or sick while playing. They said at any time I could lift the helmet upwards to take myself out of the game or raise my hand for help. They also said that if I couldn't proceed any further that Jason would be able to continue to play or they would re-start the game for him. This was very comforting to know and also made me feel better considering it was part of his Birthday celebration. I didn't want to ruin it for him!

Prior to getting suited up we stood in front of a large screen where Cassian Andor explained the mission to us. This was a great introduction to the game and it got even better after realizing we'd be in disguise as Stormtroopers! We even got to choose the color of our pauldrons! I chose pink of course.

Before heading in they offered a locker for our personal items. Afterwards we got suited up in a vest and helmet (if you don't like loud noises like me you can control the volume of the game on the headset), which are adjustable so that you can get the perfect fit, and a 20 pound computer pack on our backs! We weren't given any warning about the placement or weight of these packs. I remember exclaiming, "What is that!?". I got used to it within a couple of minutes but this might be something good to know ahead of time for those of you with back problems. Even if you don't have back problems a warning would be wise so that you can be sure you're standing correctly to properly hold the weight.

We were now ready! They directed us to an open room and SUDDENLY...WE WERE IN STAR WARS. I don't know how else to describe it than that. I looked over to my left and Jason was a Stormtrooper with the yellow pauldron he chose. Fun fact, Jason later told me I was a short Stormtrooper! Yep, the virtual reality allows you to see whomever you're playing with as a Stormtrooper at their exact height. How cool is that?

I don't want to give too much of the gameplay away but I will tell you that it really is a completely immersive experience and unlike anything I've ever done before. The sounds, the smells, and the fact that you can touch things and it's ALL STAR WARS is completely mind blowing. One of my favorite moments was picking up a blaster and shooting the other Stormtroopers. I even got shot and FELT IT! That first time I 100% screamed.

After it ended they took our photo and offered a framed hard copy and digital copy for $15 to which we immediately jumped upon. We absolutely loved experiencing this together and wanted to have something to preserve that memory. Our only complaint about our experience is how short the game is. 15 minutes literally seemed to go by in 5 minutes and we know it was because we were having the time of our lives! We hope they create another Star Wars game because we loved it that much.

I can also tell you that I was completely fine throughout the entire game. At no point did I feel nauseous or anxious. There was one part where it feels like you are high up on a small platform and Jason reached for my hand because he knew I might feel scared. It was a little scary but I was more in awe than anything else. If you also have anxiety or easily experience a queasy stomach I believe you'll be fine. I think it helps to know that you can lift the helmet up and stop at any time. It makes it worth giving it a try and I am SO glad I did.

If you're a Star Wars fan you need to do this! Tickets range from $29.95-$34.95 depending on the day and location. The Secrets of the Empire is available to play in Anaheim, CA - Glendale, CA - Las Vegas, NV - and Orlando, FL. Visit The Void website for more information and to purchase tickets!

If you have ANY questions at all about Secrets of the Empire and/or my experience please leave a comment below or feel free to Tweet or email me.