Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
TODAY IS THE DAY!
In case you are sitting in front of the clock squirming as the seconds are ticking by because you can’t control your desire to just see The Hunger Games already, I wanted to share a plethora of awesome DIY projects you can do today as you wait.
You can dress as Katniss with the help of these DIY projects:
1. DIY Mockingjay pin
2. DIY Arrows
3. DIY Quiver
If you need to get some inspiration for what clothing items might mix well together for a Katniss outfit, see this blog post and these photos on my Halloween costume.
You can sport a Mockingjay pendant necklace or arrow leather earrings with the help of these DIY videos:
You can sport your Team Katniss pride on your iPhone or iPad with these freebie backgrounds.
Teal iPhone background (LEFT) here.
“Girl on fire” maroon iPhone background here.
Maroon iPhone background here.
Cyan iPad background here.
Orange (seen below) iPad background here.
“Girl on fire” orange iPad background here.
For Halloween, we created a Mockingjay carving template, but it can be used for so much more!
You can download our free Mockingjay template by clicking here.
There’s endless possibilities what you could do with that!
Want to Host a Hunger Games dinner party? The details on how to create a Hunger Games menu, playlist and decor are available here. Hint: It includes a reaping bowl! OOOOH.
If you want to have a drink before attending the premiere tonight, here’s a great cocktail recipe inspired by everyone’s favorite fashion stylist: Cinna.
Woohoo! In the end, I really hope we all love this movie!
I’m trying a new format around here. I thought I’d show you what I’m *ACTUALLY* wearing once in a while, because lord knows that I really do where some of my geek gear to work. This week: The Mockingjay, of course!
I had a great time putting this into an instagram format. I think I might continue with this mode for a while! What do you think?
Also, find me on Instagram! I’m @lizgiorgi … come find me!
Now, down to important business. Here’s what I’ve got on:
Kenneth Cole Black blazer
Striped tee from Old Navy
Michael Kors MacBook Tote
Mockingjay Pin! (DIY here AND old Geeky at Work version here)
Kate Spade Elements of Style locket
Michael Kors pyramid stud stainless watch
Red skinny pants from Target
Steve by Steve Madden leopard wedges
Pretty much can’t get over the fact that we’re only a few days away from being able to finally see The Hunger Games. As I mentioned last week, I’m hosting a Hunger Games dinner party and I’ve been trying to think up a cocktail to serve. I’m not particularly inspired by Haymitch’s alcoholism, but I figured that other secondary characters would also be having a drink while they watched Peeta and Katniss battle it out in the 74th Hunger Games. That’s how I came up with a cocktail for Cinna.
Here’s what we know for sure:
Cinna is a smart strategist. He knows what his every move means and makes sure no moment goes wasted. (The currant is considered the smart berry, because for centuries people didn’t think the seeds were edible, so they left it alone to flourish.) He’s sweet and thoughtful, but he doesn’t always wear that sweetness on his sleeve. (Think oranges or lemons.) He’s fit and gorgeous, so he’s probably one of the few people in the Capitol who still bothers to count calories.
Here’s how it’s made.
Ingredients:
Kurant Vodka
Lemon or lemon juice
Orange flavored sparkling water
Fill your glass with ice. Cut your lemon in four slices. Put one shot of vodka in the glass and then fill the rest with orange flavored sparkling water. Use one of your slices and squeeze out the juice over the glass. Cut another small slice for the side of your glass.
This drink is about 80 calories.
Happy Hunger Games!
I love a dramatic, over-sized pendant necklace. When I picked up my Mockingjay pin last week, I had dreams of making something really dramatic that I could wear to work. Polymer clay turned out to be the answer.
Here’s how I did it:
1. Knead some polymer clay. For best results, you really should work at it to ensure that the color is spread evenly throughout.
2. Wrap your now flattened piece of clay with saran wrap. Make sure there are no creases or bubbles in your wrap, because those will appear in the clay.
3. Put the polymer wrap in between two hardcover books and press down firmly. You want to make sure you press down evenly so you will have an even pendant.
4. Keep the saran wrap on your clay. Press your Mockingjay pin into the clay. You may need to press it down several times to get the right depth in the clay. Just make sure you are pressing in the same spot.
5. Remove your saran wrap and use an X-acto knife to cut your desired shape. I also used a ruler so I could get a nice clean edge. Notice how I always put the ruler on the outside edge? You don’t want to imprint the ruler on the center at all, because you will need to smooth that out.
6. Use a toothpick to smooth out any unevenness on the sides.
7. Get your jewelry pins (they’re the straight beading posts with a hoop on the end) and stick them into the top. Make sure you don’t puncture the front or back.
8. Bake at 275 degrees for one hour on a non-stick baking pan.
9. When cooled, use ribbon, chain, thin leather to complete.
You need:
Mockingjay pin (or something to imprint with)
Polymer clay
X-Acto Knife
Beading pins
Saran Wrap
Two hardcover books
Non-stick pan
Leather, ribbon or chain
Cutting board/surface
One hour and 15 minutes
Total Cost: $4 Polymer clay was $1.49 for the square, ribbon I had, beading pins were $2.49
For the midnight premiere of The Hunger Games next week, I’m going to host a dinner party. As a person who loves a good party, I put a lot of thought into each of the details, so planning this party is no exception.
I bet there are a lot of other folks out there that will be hosting a party, so I thought I’d share some ideas in hopes of getting you to share some with me.
The food: I’m relying heavily on Emily Ansara Baines’s Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook, which includes a lot of incredible bread recipes. However, I’m also going to head out to a nice cheese shop and pick up some goat cheese in honor of Prim. I think it will be a nice little touch to add to the night.
The music: There’s a lot of great music already being released from the official Soundtrack, but these two tracks from Feist and Jenny Lewis will be wonderful additions to the mood of the evening.
Pretty Bird by Jenny Lewis
Graveyard by Feist
Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift featuring The Civil Wars (Hunger Games Soundtrack)
The decor: I picked up a small fishbowl (above) at the store and wrote all my friends names on slips of paper. I figure a reaping will be in order… But what should we do when we get picked? Feats of strength?
I bought some white and yellow flowers in honor of a certain tribute from District 11 and I’ve got a crown bowl to represent the Victors of the 74th Hunger Games. I also made a tablecloth with the names of all the tributes and their districts (DIY coming this weekend!)
Are you going to host a Hunger Games dinner party? What will you do for your party?
