My Dream Loot Crate: Nasty Women

Have you looked longingly at subscription boxes like I have? These have boomed in popularity in recent months, and I love looking at unboxings yet haven't been able to justify shelling out the money to subscribe to one yet. One subscription service that I've heard about, namely through Kristina Horner, is Loot Crate Loot Crate, which sounds awesome for geeks and nerds like me. So when they approached me about creating my own "dream crate" I knew I had to jump aboard.

Almost right away I knew I wanted to center my box around awesome female characters, and with the crazy election, my dream box is the NASTY WOMEN box.

Nasty Women Dream Loot Crate

My first choice is this Orphan Black t-shirt because this fabulous array of female characters were the first ones that came to mind. It was hard deciding on a product that could encompass Orphan Black (and there's surprisingly little merch), but this shirt is perfect and lists most of the major kick-ass female clones (portrayed by the equally kick-ass Tatiana Maslany), as well as a few other important characters.

My second choice was another easy one. This Rey print is stunning and also shows BB-8, another favorite. I loved Rey from the moment she appeared on screen in the new Star Wars movie. She's an amazing addition to the SW universe, and Daisy Ridley is perfection. Another easy choice.

Of course no list is complete without some Harry Potter reference. I actually have two different choices because they're possibly my two favorite HP characters, and I couldn't choose which one I wanted to feature more. This is Hermione's wand. Do I even need to explain this choice? Hermione meant so much to me when I was reading Harry Potter for the first time, and she still remains close to my heart. (Also, Emma Watson is perfection.)

The other amazing female character I love in Harry Potter is none other than Luna Lovegood! Her Spectrespecs are so unique to her and everyone who knows the movies will recognize it right away. Luna stays true to herself, regardless of what others will think. She's kind and creative.

Another easy choice is Annabeth from the Percy Jackson series. She, like Hermione, is the brains of the trio. She's such a solid heroine and similarly inspiring as Hermione. I found these books in middle school and am just now realizing how great of a transition it was to find it a few years after the last Harry Potter book. It's no wonder I loved Annabeth! This is an Annabeth Chase candle. 

This one is a less obvious choice, but this Everyone Deserves Tea mug represents the ladies of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (and of Pride and Prejudice). Not only do I love tea, but this is also a reminder of sisterly bond that is so strong in the Lizzie Bennet Diaries. And I love all three sisters, the actresses who portray them, as well as the supporting female cast (Charlotte, Gigi).

I'm not sure if the image is hard to see, but this Belle shirt caught my attention right away. Belle has long been one of my favorite Disney princesses (alongside Mulan). Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved Belle. She was one of the first females I saw on screen who loved to read and comforted the bookworm in me. 

This was a bit of a late addition, but I've included it for a few reasons. For one, while I personally don't like Katniss, many people do, and this pullover partially represents her. But the other reason I included it is that it represents the thousands/millions of female ballerinas out there. Ballet has sort of been brought back to popular culture thanks to people such as Misty Copeland. As a dancer/ballet dancer myself, I had to throw something in there. Ballerinas (and all dancers) work so hard yet also work to make what they do effortless. They're often not given nearly enough credit and aren't seen as on-par with other athletes, when in many ways, we're more athletic. So I had to include this in my dream box.

I apologize that this Captain Marvel/Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan pillow isn't included in the overall graphic, but I added this after I made it. As I wrote my honorable mentions/extras below I realized I didn't have any non-white women above, which is a huge and real problem (and also why we need more diversity in popular culture). So Kamala Khan popped into my head. I wanted to pick an item that's different from the others, and this pillow fits that bill. 

Another last minute addition not included in the graphic is this Schuyler Sisters sticker. I had them in mind since the beginning, but it slipped my mind as I was finishing up this post. This is such a given. Does it even need explaining?

Extras/Honorable Mentions

There were a few items that don't fit into the popular culture category, so I've listed them here instead.

 

I absolutely love this image and think a tote would be fabulous. If we're going to talk about feminism, it should be intersectional. Unfortunately, basically all of the women above are white women, and it's important to acknowledge all types of women.

Michelle Obama is all kinds of goals, and I've fallen in love with the recent Strand merch including this quote. This is the magnet, and after the election, this is just so inspiring and lovely. I love Michelle Obama and think she's an amazing figure for all of us to look up to.

And last but not least, I had to include Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We Should All Be Feminists. To me, Adichie is one of the ultimate feminists, and while there are plenty of others whom I love, she speaks so eloquently and rawly and openly about transnational and intersectional feminism. She supports other women, even if she disagrees with them (see her comments on her feminism vs. Beyonce's feminism). She has been so integral in the recent pushes/fights for feminism, and she is such an important part of educating others on inclusional feminism. I just love her, and I think this (or her TED talk) should be required reading (viewing). 

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Ladies, let us continue to be "nasty women." Let's continue to fight for inclusion and diversity, for equality, for respect. Let's continue to support one another and critically discuss issues important to all of us.

Be sure to check out Loot Crate Loot Crate

if you're interested in their subscription boxes!

And let me know below or on Twitter what you would include in your dream crate!

Review: Frozen Movie

This movie wins for most misleading movie trailer. If it weren't for the fact that I'd heard such amazing things from other people and was told that it, in fact, isn't just about an annoying snowman and a reindeer, I wouldn't have gone to see it. Well, thank you to everyone that gushed about it and pushed me to go watch it.

Firstly, the annoying snowman and reindeer thing? SO NOT TRUE. OLAF <333 (the snowman) The reindeer I don't care much for, although I loved the bit at the end. Oh yay, vague mentions. But no spoilers, so! Anyway, Olaf is so sweet and HILARIOUS, and I love him so much. I thought he'd be annoying, but nope! So much love for Olaf. [Insert me singing In Summer.]

Then there's the guys in the movie. I knew there was something up with Hans, but I can't go much further without spoiling something. I do have to say that I loved the wonderfulness that was Love Is An Open Door. Seriously. The vocals in that song? Amazing. Kristoff was awesome, although I knew he would end up with [retracted for spoilers, though I'm sure you can figure it out] in the end. I love the connection between the scene in the beginning and what happens later on. And the rock family is cute. ;)

Of course, there's also the leading ladies. Firstly, can I just say, I am so in love with both Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel (How can you not??? Her voice is AMAZING.)! They both shined in their performances, both voicing the characters and also singing. Can I please have their voices? No? WHY?!?! But seriously, I'm so glad that this Disney movie isn't primarily about finding a prince or something, although it did seem that way in the beginning. This is about the relationship between siblings, and I am so glad it was that way. The ending (or close to the ending) surprised me but in all the best ways. The characters, particularly the ladies, were far beyond amazing. This is now one of my favorite Disney princess movies, right up there with Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, and Mulan. Thank you to Disney for finally making a movie that focuses on friendship and family rather than primarily romantic relationships.

The ending in general did feel a bit rushed, but I'm really happy with the solution, if you call it that, at the end. There was also a huge character learning arc, and I think that Anna and Elsa changed so much, for the better. Elsa became more comfortable and confident in herself. She realized that she can use her powers for good, rather than bad. She realized that she doesn't have to hide anymore. And Anna came to see how much her sister really loved her. She learned that she isn't alone and that she's more than just a girl that needs a guy/a relationship.

If you're looking for an all around solid movie, go watch Frozen. If you're looking for a movie that's about more than a romantic relationship, go watch Frozen. If you're looking for a movie with important life lessons and morals but still want it to be funny, go watch Frozen. If you want to go watch a movie but can't decide on one to watch, go watch Frozen. I can almost guarantee you won't regret it. 

On a side note: THE SOUNDTRACK. I am SO in love. Seriously, just go listen to it now. Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell in particular are amazing, and In Summer is a shout-out to my love for Olaf.