Tag: agent carter

geek style

I Know My Value

Nina Penalosa1 Comment

It’s almost been a month since the world turned upside down, and I’m still trying to process everything. Like… how the hell did this happen?! If you haven’t been living under a proverbial rock, surely you know what I’m talking about.

I struggle with considering myself an optimist (now more than ever) because despite my great need to have a strong moral compass, and desire to believe that there’s kindness and compassion in the world thanks to my heavy Disney diet as a child, I can’t help but feel frustrated and despondent knowing that everyday some form of hate is being spread. With the results of the election, I’ve noticed that people who have opposing views to mine are growing a hell of a lot more bolder in spreading that hate. Sure, others who are like-minded to my views posted many encouraging things on social media that basically said they support you if you’re female, black, LGBTQ+, latinx, or muslim. Well, I identify as female, but why aren’t asians as a whole included in this list? As a community, we’re just as angry, hurt, scared, and frustrated as any other community. Hollywood has already left me feeling quite marginalized; as much as I love Marvel, the backlash that came with Doctor Strange has me seething with rage. I know the director acknowledged the issues of whitewashing, but I found his excuses to be very weak. Story tellers, talented ones at least, are able to overcome such obstacles as writing ethnic characters that aren’t racially stereotypical. I could go on about the frustration I feel over the lack of asian representation in Hollywood, but I feel like that’s a whole other blog post.

Despite my recent frustrations with Marvel’s cinematic universe, they did give me and the rest of the geek community Peggy Carter. She’s been a beacon of light for us geek girls (and boys) by being a scrappy bad ass that takes shit from no one. This Agent Carter inspired dress from Her Universe almost feels like armor in a sense because I feel like I can kick ass and take names whenever I wear it (and it has pockets!).

Over the past month, I’ve been turning to different fandoms to find some form of comfort because escapism every now and then is needed in times like these. Whether it’s Poe Dameron saying “As long as there’s light, we’ve got a chance,” Albus Dumbledore saying “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one remembers to turn on the light,” or the Hamilton soundtrack in its entirety, they all fill me with a bit of hope and inspiration. But Peggy’s infamous “I know my value” line has been coming to the forefront of my mind a lot more lately. The quote in its entirety ends with “Anyone else’s opinion doesn’t matter.” I know that my life and those in my community are worth it just as much as anyone else’s, even if others don’t seem to think so.

:: OUTFIT DETAILS ::
Agent Carter dress: Her Universe (buy here) | purse: Kate Spade (n/a)
shoes: Dexflex Comfort (buy here)| lipstick: Besame (buy here)
Avengers bracelet: Loot Wear (subscribe here)
Steve Rogers necklace: Le Fancy Geek Boutique (buy here) 

Cheers,
Nina

(photos taken by Sara McDougall)

the biblio files

The Biblio Files: Operation S.I.N.: Agent Carter

Nina Penalosa3 Comments

While I was in Hawaii, I thought I was going to have all this downtime to read. But I was wrong. SO WRONG. It wasn’t until my flight back home that I was able to read volume 3 of Ms. Marvel and Operation S.I.N.: Agent Carter. If you’re down with the badass ladies of Marvel, then you should definitely pick both of these graphic novels up! Operation S.I.N. won’t exactly fill that hole in your heart if you’re missing the Agent Carter tv show with queen Hayley Atwell playing the titular role like somethin’ fierce, but it helps a wee bit.

Operation S.I.N. follows Peggy Carter a few years after the war and she suddenly finds herself lured into a crazy mission led by Howard Stark after an alien energy source is discovered in Russia, and it’s up to the two of them to track down its location. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but there’s a dude that can turn into a bear and a Russian gulag run by Hydra. Hydra, aliens, gulags, and bears, OH MY!

The story takes place in the Marvel comic universe, rather than the cinematic one that most of us (-ahem– me) are used to, so I was slightly taken aback when Peggy says she’s American and not British. It’s an easy detail to get over once you immerse yourself in the story and see that Peggy’s razor sharp wit and overall badassery is still intact. 🙂

I’m trying my best to get into the swing of reading regularly like I used to, but I’ve been finding that I get extremely distracted and lost in my own head lately — specifically when I try to read books with no pictures. Bleh. That’s why I find myself reading graphic novels and comic books more frequently now. Anyhow, I’m hoping to regularly post more book reviews so please bear with me if they happen to sputter randomly.

What books have you been reading — graphic novel or not? Let me know in the comments!

cheers

5 fandom friday

5 Fandom Friday: My Favorite Swag from SDCC

Nina Penalosa15 Comments

I can’t believe it’s already been a week since Comic-Con happened! I’m still trying to recover from it. Going back to work was R O U G H, you guys. There were a few times I woke up in the morning feeling like a sack of garbage and was tempted to call in sick to sleep a bit more. But I didn’t. Thank goodness I don’t work Fridays though. WOO! So today’s theme for 5 Fandom Friday is to share some of our favorite pieces of swag we got at a convention. Since SDCC just happened, I’m sharing the best things I scored!

1. Agent Carter poster

This is the one freebie that I truly cared about obtaining, and it was bitch trying to get it. I went to the Marvel booth a few times, but they never had it when I’d go there. I asked the workers if they would be passing them out, and each time they answered with, “Yes, later today. I don’t know what time, but check back later.” UGH. I always asked very politely too (because I’m a Hufflepuff, duh), but they were quite bitchy. It’s like, okay, I understand that this is probably the millionth time you’ve been asked that question today, but if someone is being polite as hell the least you could do is try and be courteous. Am I right?

I went to the ABC booth on Sunday and my friend asked one of the workers if they had any Agent Carter posters there, and they were super nice about it and checked for us. And they did have them! So I finally got one after I did the photo booth thingy that they had at their boothw. YAY!

2. Photo booth pictures

I took A LOT of photo booth pics during SDCC. Pixster was at both the Geeks Go Glam and SherlockeDCC parties I went to, and my bloggy buddies and I had way too much fun hamming it up in front of it. And at the ABC booth they had photo booth with a random generator — characters that you could possibly take a picture with were Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzie Bear from The Muppets or Regina from Once Upon a Time. I was freaking out because I was so worried that I’d get Regina. Although she’s one of my favorites on the show, I REALLY wanted to take a picture with a Muppet. I was beyond relieved when I got Animal. 😀

3. Pins/buttons

I got some really cool buttons and pins this year! At the Tsum Tsum booth they passed out envelopes with pins after you take a picture at either of their photo ops. There were a total of 24 pins that you could collect, but who has time to do that? I managed to get Minnie and my absolute favorite Lady. I also got some free Star Wars pins from Loungefly (only Darth Vader is pictured), a button from Sam Maggs’ book signing that says “I’m the Doctor, Not the Companion,” an exclusive AT-AT pin from Think Geek with my purchase, and an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Secret Warriors pin. 🙂

4. Legend graphic novel by Mari Lu

My sister is a huge fan of Marie Lu’s Legend series and I decided to go to book signing with her since she’d be signing free copies of the graphic novel adaptation of Legend. I love graphic novels, especially since my attention span isn’t as great as it used to be when it comes to reading (I get SO distracted), so I’m really excited to start reading it.

5. Personalized Coke can

Over at Nerd HQ they had a machine where you can personalize your own Coke can! You could make two at a time so I wanted to make one that said Peggy Carter and Captain America… except it wouldn’t let me. RUGH. So I made one with Peggy and kind of panicked for the second one and just did my name. After I left I was like, “I COULD’VE MADE ONE THAT SAID STEVE” (for Captain America’s civilian name). Oh well. At least I now have a little Coke can with my name on it (despite the fact that I bought a Diet Coke bottle bearing my name last month).

Were you at Comic-Con this year too? Let me know what your favorite freebies were this year! And if you didn’t go, feel free to leave whatever kind of comment! 🙂

 

To find out the origins of 5 Fandom Friday, go here. And check out The Nerdy Girlie and SuperSpaceChick to catch up with the latest prompts! 

 

geek style

A Shiny Wish List for SDCC

Nina Penalosa4 Comments

Brace yourselves, COMIC-CON IS COMING.

In the past years I haven’t been a wise shopper. Just because something is “exclusive” doesn’t necessarily mean I must own it, right? I’m going to attempt to be a bit more strict on what I spend my precious monies on this time around, but there are some exclusives that have me doing the heart-eye emoji BIG TIME.

– Sparkly Darth Vader coin purse by Loungefly

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How fabulous is this sparkly Darth Vader coin purse?! I have a ton of coin purses at home, and I actually just took all my coins to the bank to cash them, buuut… I mean… this would be a practical purchase. <— it’s DARTH VADER. Of course I’m trying to justify my want for it!

– Firefly necklace by Quantum Mechanix

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OMG SO SHINY. I don’t think I need to explain why I want this. I mean… look at it!

  • Unmasked Captain America Pop! Figure by Funko

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This little unmasked version of Captain America is too cute for words! It would be perfect to put alongside the Peggy Carter figure that’s coming out later this year too. Since Barnes & Noble will have a few Funko SDCC Exclusives, I’m asking my friend Jennifer to go and take a look to see if they have this little Cap figure so I won’t have to stand in that crazy long-ass line during the convention.

– Doctor Who: 11th Doctor Pop! figure by Funko

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The 11th Doctor is my favorite Doctor and purple is my favorite color, so that’s a completely justifiable reason to want this adorable rendition of him, right?

– Direwolves plush set by Factory Entertainment

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Last year I was on a mad hunt for a Grey Wind plushie, except the only ones that were in the exhibit hall were all prototypes. UGH. This year Factory Entertainment has an exclusive set featuring little 6 inch versions of Grey Wind, Ghost, and Nymeria. AHH!! I just might cave, you guys. I just might. O__O

– pretty much EVERYTHING at the Her Universe booth

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So none of these are officially exclusive, at least not that I know of, but HOLY. CRAP! Her Universe just released images of a few new items making their debut at SDCC and everything looks AMAZING!!! I’m particularly stoked for the Peter Pan collar Avengers top and Agent Carter t-shirt. I saw on Instagram that there won’t be any plus size Agent Carter tees available since they didn’t have enough shirts, but I’m hoping I’ll be able to squeeze into an XL. – crosses fingers – 

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What swag are you most looking forward to getting your hands on?

cheers

geek style

Le Femme Geek

Nina Penalosa8 Comments

I can’t believe Agent Carter is already going to have its season finale next Tuesday. UGH! And Parks & Rec is having their SERIES finale, but that’s an entirely different post! DOUBLE UGH.

I really hope that Agent Carter gets renewed for a second season because I need more Peggy Carter in life. Speaking of which, Barbara of You Fancy Me Mad is hosting a giveaway for one of my Peggy Carter necklaces on her blog! It’s open to all US residents, so be sure to check it out and enter here if you want to carry a bit of Peggy wherever you go. 😀

Anyhow, as you may have noticed this is an outfit post! Yeah, I know, I haven’t done one since my birthday. I’m working on it, I swear.

I picked up this Avengers icon dress from Her Universe during their Black Friday sale last November, and got it for 50% off. SCORE! I love how subtle it is with all the Avengers logos splayed all over it like a polka-dot pattern, and I can pretty much pair it with any pop of color I want. I usually wear it with a green cardigan and pair it with a Loki necklace, but I looked at it hanging in my closet one day and thought, “That would look hella cute with a pink motorcycle jacket!” Except, I don’t own a pink motorcycle jacket, so my pale pink cardigan (that I’ve had for 4 years) would have to suffice. Then I added my Peggy Carter necklace, put a rose clip in my hair, and threw one some black ballet flats, and VOILA! Super femme geek!

I really like the way this outfit turned out because it made me feel like a fancy geek. Ha! See what I did there? Te-he 😉

cheers

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dress: Her Universe (buy here) // cardigan: Forever 21 (no longer available)
glasses: ModCloth (buy here) // necklace: Le Fancy Geek Boutique (buy here)
hair pin: H&M (no longer available) // shoes: White Mountain (buy here)

geek style

Everyday Cosplay: Peggy Carter

Nina Penalosa8 Comments

ec_agentcarter1
blouse: ModCloth // skirt: ModCloth // clutch: ModCloth
necklace: Le Fancy Geek Boutique // belt: Fossil // shoes: Bait Footwear

I adored Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger, so of course I’m completely obsessed with Agent Carter! It’s so awesome that Marvel created a show focusing on such a strong, badass mamajama. Are any of you fangirling over it too? Do you want to elbow Agent Chad Michael Murray in the face as much as I do? Did you watch last night’s episode?!?!?! Because OMG OMG OMG.

Putting together an Everyday Cosplay for Peggy was a bit of a challenge at first because I kept flip flopping between different outfits she wore on the show and in the Captain America movie. Do I stick with her neutral military ensembles, or her sharp blue suit and red fedora number from Agent Carter? I gravitated towards the simple neutral pallet of her military uniform and found some items on ModCloth, such as a the cream blouse, olive skirt, and postcard clutch, to pull the look together. The postcard clutch says “Make up for last time” — it kind of reminded me of when Steve promised her a dance as his plane was plummeting, and he obviously couldn’t keep it because… well, he turned into a popsicle. I’M SORRY I WENT THERE. 😥

I also included a Steve Rogers pendant that just got added to Le Fancy Geek Boutique! I’ve also added a Peggy Carter necklace that comes in two different color ways — one features the same cream lace background as the Steve Rogers pendant, and the other has a maroon floral background.

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If you’re fangirling like somethin’ fierce over Agent Carter like I am, leave a comment so we can start fangirling together!

cheers

 

PS: If you’d like to purchase a Peggy Carter or Steve Rogers necklace, be sure to use code GALENTINE15 to save 10% off your purchase! Good until Feb. 14.