Life Update: Puppy Chaos, Cosplay Crunches, and Welcoming Spooky Season

 Life has a funny way of shifting into high gear just when you think you’ve caught your breath! Lately, things around here have been nonstop, wonderfully chaotic, and full of moving pieces.

The Surprise Furry Additions:

🐾 Out of nowhere, life handed us some adorable new puppies, and let’s just say our daily routine got an instant injection of puppy energy and playtime.

🐾 Between feedings, cuddles, and general puppy antics, there is truly never a dull (or quiet!) moment in the house right now.

A New Season of Family Life:

❤️ Having two adult kids has opened up such a fun new chapter—it means I get to hit the road and travel a lot more with my hubs, which I absolutely cherish.

❤️ At the same time, balancing home life, stay-at-home homeschooling, and everyday routines means my calendar stays packed to the brim.

Podcast Adventures & Double the Mischief:

✨Magic Making Mischief: My weekly collaborative show with my geek besties (CJ Peterson, Ukita Cosplay, and Juju Jones), where we dive headfirst into family-friendly pop culture, convention coverage, and tons of laughs.

🍿 Pages and Popcorn: A brand-new project I’m launching with my sister, dedicated to diving into our massive watchlist of movie favorites, book-to-screen adaptations, and cozy reviews.

🎥Whether you're in the mood for live fandom banter or a relaxed movie-and-book night breakdown, there is plenty of storytelling fun to tune into!

Cosplay & Comic-Con Fun:

🪡I love making cosplays, crafting, and diving headfirst into comic cons, but juggling all those creative projects with mom life can definitely feel like a high-wire act sometimes.

🧵Even when the project crunch gets real, bringing characters to life and celebrating stories with fellow nerds is always worth every stitch.

Bring On Autumn & Spooky Season:

🍂 With the holiday season right around the corner, my absolute favorite time of year is finally here.

🍁 Living in the Houston area means "fall weather" is mostly wishful thinking, but that doesn't stop me from fully embracing the season.

🎃Having spooky season surround me is pure joy—it's the one time of year where I feel completely at home in all the dark whimsy, fun decorations, and festive magic.

Thank you all for hanging out in my creative space and following along with the chaos, travels, and fandom fun. Here’s to enjoying the crispest fake-fall vibes we can muster and making the most of every adventure!

Unleashing Magical Creativity: A Journey with Jade Kelly in Voice Acting and Cosplay

Everyone has a little bit of magic inside of them. Whether it's through their hobbies, talents, or passions, we all have something that makes us unique and special. For voice actress and cosplayer Jade Kelly, her magic shines through her love for both voice acting and cosplay.

Jade Kelly is a talented voice actress who has lent her voice to various characters in popular anime series such as Ragna Crimson, Call of the Night, and Urusei Yatsura. However, her magic doesn't just stop there. She is also an avid cosplayer who enjoys bringing her favorite characters to life through this creative outlet.

One might wonder, how did Jade find herself on this magical journey in the world of voice acting and cosplay? Well, it all started at a young age when she would create her own costumes and outfits for Halloween and other special occasions. As she grew up, this love for dressing up and creating unique looks only grew stronger.

In high school, Jade didn't have a theater program, but they did have a spirit week where she would go all out with her outfits. She loved the thrill of transforming into different characters and being able to show off her creativity through elaborate costumes. Even though she didn't always win the spirit week contests, she didn't mind because it was all about having fun and expressing herself in a unique way.

When she got to college, Jade discovered the world of cosplay, and it was like a dream come true for her. She realized she could combine her love for dressing up with her passion for anime and other fandoms. From then on, she became more involved in cosplay events and conventions where she could showcase her amazing sewing skills and attention to detail.

Now, as a successful voice actress, Jade continues to fuel her creative side through cosplay. She often collaborates with her friends from the cosplay community, such as Yita Cosplay, whom she met through a cosplay contest. They have even started working on a Sailor Scout princess group costume together, where Jade will be making Yita's Sylvia Neptune costume.

Jade's journey in the world of voice acting and cosplay is truly an inspirational one. She didn't let anyone else's opinion stop her from expressing herself through her passion for dressing up and creating amazing costumes. And now, she has found success and recognition in both industries.

But it's not just about the fame and recognition for Jade; it's about the joy and magic that these two hobbies bring into her life. For her, it's all about being able to showcase her creativity, express herself freely, and make others smile along the way.

So how can you unleash your own magical creativity? First of all, embrace your passions and don't be afraid to express yourself. Whether it's through dressing up, painting, dancing, or anything else, let your inner magic shine through your hobbies and interests.

Secondly, surround yourself with like-minded individuals who will support and encourage your creative journey. Take part in events and communities that align with your interests and find friends who share the same love for your hobbies.

And lastly, don't be afraid to try something new or combine different passions. As we can see with Jade, her love for music helped her develop skills that have been beneficial in her voice acting career. You never know where your interests may take you, so always keep an open mind.

Jade Kelly's journey in voice acting and cosplay is a reminder for all of us to let our creative magic flow and embrace our passions. So let's all follow Jade's lead and continue to make mischief with our own unique talents and abilities. Who knows, maybe we'll discover a little bit of magic along the way.

Want to hear more about her amazing journey? Click here for the full Magic Making Mischief podcast interview with Jade Kelly

The Faire of Champions: A Fantasy Adventure for the Whole Family"

Are you ready for a one-of-a-kind experience? Something that combines the excitement of a Comic Con, the magic of a Renaissance festival, and the thrill of a D&D adventure? Well, look no further because the Faire of Champions has it all!

On this week's episode of Magic Making Mischief, we had the pleasure of speaking with John Woodcock, Mike Champion, and Jo Cachet, the masterminds behind the Faire of Champions. As they shared with us about this unique event, we couldn't help but feel the excitement building up. So, let's dive into what makes the Faire of Champions so special.

First things first - what sets this event apart from your typical Renaissance festival? The answer is simple - freedom. At the Faire of Champions, you're not bound to a specific time period or theme. Instead, you have the freedom to bring your own story and character to life. Want to dress up as a sci-fi character or a video game hero? Go for it! The possibilities are endless.

But that's not all - the Faire of Champions also offers an immersive quest experience. Each weekend has its own campaign line that builds upon the previous week. And the best part? The quests change every weekend! So even if you can only attend for one day, you can still join in on the adventure and receive your very own Horn of Champions.

But what exactly is this quest all about? Well, it's up to you! The Faire of Champions is a patron fair, meaning that patrons have a say in what happens next year. Upon completing the quest, patrons get to choose next year's themes by rolling a dice. The options include biking, pirates, and additional themes based on dice rolls. So not only do you get to be a part of an epic adventure, but you also have a say in its continuation.

The quest is also where you'll meet the cast of characters. These characters, similar to a D&D game, summoned by a DM and are there to help you complete the quest. But their involvement doesn't end there - they also play a role in the daily events at the Faire, which include acrobatic sword fighting and unique challenges that involve coins obtained throughout the day.

As we chatted with John, Mike and Jo, we could feel their passion for creating an event that is fun, inclusive, and full of magic. And as they shared with us their vision for future Faire of Champions events, we couldn't help but feel like this is something truly special.

So mark your calendars and grab your Wands - the Faire of Champions is happening this weekend! With different themes every weekend, there's something for every fantasy lover. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this unique experience that brings together fantasy, magic, and adventure in one place.

We hope to see you there - don't forget to bring your  sense of adventure!

In case you missed it, you can catch our full interview with John, Mike and Jo on our Magic Making Mischief podcast. And make sure to follow the Faire of Champions on their website and social media for updates on future events and new themes. Who knows, maybe your idea will be the next chosen theme for the Faire of Champions!

Homestead (2024) is a must-see!

 Homestead (2024) is a must-see!

 My family and I were completely captivated by this Angel Studios film from beginning to end. The storytelling is superb, particularly the opening scenes and the emotional core of the narrative. The quality far surpasses expectations for a smaller studio, easily ranking among the best films I've seen in years. 

We're already planning a second viewing with my husband and buying a copy for him. The pay-it-forward program is a wonderful touch, and we were fortunate enough to benefit from its generosity. Highly recommended! 

If you're interested in either receiving or donating towards the pay for it tickets for this specific movie, here is the link. 

 Go to angel.com/sharehomestead to claim your Pay it Forward tickets now!

#HomesteadMovie #AngelStudios #HomesteadTVseries #NowInTheaters #PayItForward #moviereview #mombierella 

Oklahoma Christmas Magic & My Surprisingly High Chaos Threshold!

November brought an incredible, albeit bittersweet, trip to Oklahoma. The Mischief Making Magic podcast crew – Ukita, myself, and of course, our beloved CJ – finally reunited! It was a blessing to spend time with CJ, helping her deck the halls for the holidays and offering support during a challenging time.

Seeing CJ navigate her health struggles firsthand has given me a whole new level of understanding and empathy. Witnessing the exhaustion and stress of countless doctor's appointments put a lot into perspective. My heart aches for her, but I'm incredibly grateful we could be there for her, delivering collective hugs and love from all our Magic Makers💖 Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible; your support meant the world.

But amidst the heartfelt moments, I also learned something pretty interesting about myself! CJ’s home is wonderfully calm and peaceful – what I now realize is, for me, *extremely* quiet. I never realized how much I thrive on a constant hum of background noise until I spent several days in that peaceful environment. Audiobooks, music, the happy chaos of my kids – I need that continuous soundtrack to my life. It's not loudness; it's a certain level of ambient energy I need to function. I guess my baseline "noise level" is higher than most people's – LOL! No wonder I spent a lot of time with my earbuds in, creating my own personal soundscape – nothing personal, CJ! Just a newfound self-awareness!

Leaving Oklahoma was incredibly hard. Tears wereshed, knowing we might not see each other in person again for a while. But I pray that changes soon

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season! Thank you again for your unwavering support, which made this special reunion possible. We love you all 💖🎄

The Unpredictable Dance of Life

It's a constant struggle, isn't it? Trying to maintain a consistent routine, a steady rhythm to life. I, for one, find myself constantly striving to keep up with this blog, but it always seems to fall by the wayside. I could chalk it up to my attention span, my packed schedule, or any number of other excuses, but ultimately it boils down to a simple truth: life has a way of throwing curveballs, and sometimes, no matter how hard we try, things just don't go as planned.

And lately, it feels like the curveballs are flying fast and furious. From the shocking events in the news - the political turmoil, the natural disasters, the personal tragedies - it seems the world is spinning at an accelerated pace. We are bombarded with information, with emotions, with uncertainty. It's enough to make anyone feel a little overwhelmed.

In these moments, I find myself seeking solace in faith. I believe there's a universal Truth, a guiding hand, and if you seek the purpose for your life, you will find it. But I also understand that everyone walks their own path and holds their own beliefs. And that's okay. What's not okay is using those beliefs to hurt or belittle others. If we can all strive for a little more grace, a little more understanding, a little more kindness, perhaps we can weather the storms together.

We might not be able to control the unexpected twists and turns of life, but we can choose how we respond. We can choose to show compassion, to offer support, to spread a little bit of light in a world that sometimes feels dark. Perhaps, in doing so, we can make a small difference, one step at a time.

Honoring Greg Kelso: Celebration of Life for a Comic Con Legend

Today, I want to talk about someone very special to me, a legend in the comic con scene who recently passed away. His name was Greg Kelso, and he was not only a dear friend but also the beloved host of the Con Hour. Greg had that magical ability to leave an indelible mark on the lives of others, and his presence in the comic con community will forever be missed.

But fret not, my friends, for there is something incredible on the horizon. We are gathering together to honor Greg's memory in a Celebration of Life like no other. This event promises to be a gathering of souls connected by our shared love for the comic con world. And let me tell you, that is a beautiful thing.

For those unfamiliar with comic con culture, let me enlighten you. It's a world that brings together people from all walks of life, united by their passion for art, storytelling, and fandoms. And this celebration of Greg Kelso's life epitomizes that unity. It's a space for everyone, whether old friends or new acquaintances, to come together and share their cherished memories of a person who influenced their lives in countless ways.

I can't begin to express how heartwarming this event is going to be. It's a chance for us to reconnect with friends from the vibrant comic con community, to reminisce about the good times, and to celebrate the creative spirit that Greg embodied. And what better way to do that than by embracing cosplay, something that Greg himself loved so much? 

The Legacy Continues: Tricity Comic Con:

While we gather to remember and celebrate Greg's life, it is equally important to honor his dreams and aspirations. Greg was an instrumental force in the creation of Tricity Comic Con, an event that he poured his heart and soul into. It is heartwarming to know that this Tricity Comic Con will be a testament to Greg's legacy and will carry on his vision. Attending the event will not only be a celebration but also a way to ensure that Greg's contributions to the comic con community live on.

At times, it takes a special person to inspire and guide us along our chosen paths. Greg Kelso was that person for many members of the comic con community, including myself. Without his encouraging words and invaluable guidance, I may not have found my passion or had the courage to pursue it fully. Greg Kelso's impact on my life, both personally and professionally, is immeasurable, and I am eternally grateful for the role he played in shaping who I am today.

This memorial gathering for Greg Kelso serves not only as a celebration of his life but also as a reminder of the profound impact he had on the lives of those he touched. As we come together to share memories, support one another, and don our cosplays, we honor the legacy of a comic con legend. Through our attendance and participation in Tricity Comic Con, we ensure that Greg's dreams live on, carrying forward his passion for the community he loved so dearly. 

So, my friends, let's come together in this Celebration of Life for Greg Kelso. Let's honor his legacy by immersing ourselves in the very essence of his creative spirit. Let's share our stories, our love, and our appreciation for a man who meant so much to all of us.

I can't wait to see you all there, dressed as the characters we hold close to our hearts. Together, let's create a day filled with love, laughter, and memories that would make Greg proud.