Blog Moving!

The Nerd Wife's Life will be moving to Wordpress. I had zero access to my blog and content for about 24 hours because Blogger's automated system marked it as spam and had it ready for deletion. Blogger resolved it quicker than expected, but the deletion was completely unexpected and unwarranted. After being very pro-Blogger for years, I'm making the switch.

You can find the new The Nerd Wife's Life right >HERE<.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

November 2016.
I'm pumped.

When are you no longer a newlywed?

I STILL love showing off my wedding photos. It was a simple, small wedding that cost very little (compared to most). My favorite part is a tie between the Converse worn by the wedding party and the white painted sticks used in the centerpieces instead of flowers. The boy was pretty great too.

I don't know why I love it.

I don't know why I love it, but I love this picture.

Gingerbread Cookies with Acorn Flour

Processing acorn flour isn't for everyone. I'd call it more of a hobby for a survivalist than the frugal-minded. It takes a fair amount of time and patience for very little return, however I enjoy going out and finding my bounty and then experimenting with ways to incorporate it into my everyday recipes.

Here's an example: gingerbread cookies. Okay, not exactly an everyday recipe but extremely appropriate for the season. To make things simpler on me, I've never even made gingerbread cookies. So it was totally easy to get the taste and texture right!

Hence why I ended up smashing up my first batch to make a crust for a cheesecake. And perhaps why everyone made an odd face and asked what the crust was made of.

I think I finally cracked the code, though. I don't have any milk on hand at the moment, so I'll be skipping icing these cute little guys.

Can you tell which was the last cookie? I'm so ready for a gingerbread man genocide.

Perfect combo of crunchy and soft!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 c all-purpose flour
• 1/2 c acorn flour
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 2 tbsp molassses
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 3/4 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon 
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 6 tbsp butter

Mix your ingredients together, dry and then wet. Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes. Once chilled, roll flat with a rolling pin and cut out with a cookie cutter. The dough is a bit crumbly at first, but it's not too difficult to work with. Chill another ten minutes and then bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes. 

+8 to cooking, +5 to herblore, festive cookies added to inventory

Vlog is a stupid word.

There's nothing wrong with practicing a skill, right? Jess and I have been talking for awhile about starting a YouTube and Twitch together (separate channels and streams, but going through the experience together), and I want to get used to being recorded and speaking in a natural way while doing so. It'll take time to get to the level I would like to be at, so bare with me as I practice-practice-practice. Hopefully I'll figure out how the heck I was shaking the camera so much!

And, damn, what bad posture I have. Maybe this will be better for me than simply improving my speaking skills.

Minecraft Creepypasta

                The village I’m from is nothing like the surrounding ones. Their sturdy, plain structures seemed almost shabby compared to our elaborate buildings and grand castles that looked as if they touched the sky. The main part of the village is built around a large chasm with a waterfall and lake in the middle. Bridges make up the large part of our roads in that area – some made of elaborate stonework while others are tiny, rickety wooden planks. Even the outer portion of the village, down the mountainside in a flatland, still boasted buildings with odd curves and materials that were rare in our area in the world.

                Despite the beauty of my surrounding environment, I can’t help but grow more depressed every time I look around at all the empty homes and shops in the village. Two weeks ago, my brother was killed by a zombie. He was my last living relative and the only other person in the village. None of the other villages have come to our aid since the monster invasion began six years ago. Since that time our thriving community has slowly dwindled until there was only myself left. How is one person supposed to protect, maintain, and repair all of these buildings? How is one person supposed to survive this world alone?

                Every day begins at dawn with work that can be done inside buildings, due to the fact that monsters may still be lurking about outdoors. During the six years before I was alone, we managed to connect a large portion of our buildings with underground tunnels and secure the inner portion of our village from the invasion. I harvest food from our indoor fields and prepare and store what I can. If I have the time, I work on the slow mining to expand the tunnels that were started by the other villagers. Once the sun is high in the sky, I move my work outdoors. I tend to the animals and any outdoor crops, I repair any damage the creepers and endermen caused during the night, and attempt to retrieve any supplies I’m running low on inside.

                When there were more of us, this would also be the time that we would work on expanding the village and the castle towering over it. I suppose one could say we had hopeful minds to believe that there would be future generations to enjoy what we worked hard to build and protect. We used to also be able to spare the man power to send out an occasional ranger party or two to gather the supplies that were located further out from our local lands and scout for any village that may be willing to send aid to us.

                Now any hope of help has been dashed. Before our last ranger went missing, every report told of villages full of people who were unwilling to face the beasts that plagued our people every nightfall. I still catch myself looking off into the horizon for the army my father promised me would one day come to our aid. I’ve learned the hard way that no one is coming. Heroes are for fairytales.

                To be honest, I never would have imagined that I’d be one of the last ones standing. I was young when this all began, and was raised fighting this war against an infinite army, however I’m not exactly the strongest or most clever of the villagers who once lived here. I had to learn to dabble in every trade in order to play my part as the numbers began to disappear; this made me a master in none of them. I can blacksmith, chop down a tree and saw it into lumber, garden, bake, build, and mine when necessary. But due to my novice skill, everything I create turns out bulky and blocky and just good enough to work. It seems as if no time passes at all before it breaks and I have to make another. Some of the other villagers used to be able to make tools that would last for years, but that seems like a dream to me now. Now, everything breaks and everything decays.

                Ever since I buried my brother, I’ve thought about casting my gear aside and wandering into the wilderness with nothing but a sword and some bread. Maybe I could find a fresh start in a village that doesn’t have a mob of monsters on its doorstep every night. Maybe I could build a little cabin far, far away from here and live off the land. Anything would be better than to watch these empty buildings fall down around me, right? Is there any point to living a life in this huge place alone?

                And for the fourteenth dawn in a row, I’ve awoke with these thoughts racing through my mind. Finally, I decided to give up this forsaken place and seek out refuge elsewhere. I can only hope that the beasts do not follow me. I’ve gathered up only the very basic necessities – sword, axe, pick, food. Right as I was about to set foot outside of the edge of the village, I paused. Was I really going to leave my only home? Was I really going to allow those monsters to win?

                Yes. Yes I was. Because this was no life.

                I made a quick sign out of materials laying around and I hammered it into the ground with the hilt of my sword. On it read:

Please reclaim what I couldn’t.

-Steve

A Tradition We Should Adopt

Hello (Cover)

A wonderful cover of Adele's song Hello by a local artist, DeMarco King.

12 Days of Christmas

...starts now!

Look at this adorableness! Jess reindeered me speechless with this random gift. A new mug for the collection and coffees to bring in the season!

Midnight Mental Massacre.

I hate not being able to sleep when I want. Jess can simply sit down - he doesn't even need to lay down - anywhere and be conked out in a matter of minutes. I have to spend at least an hour winding down, and another hour trying to fall asleep before finally drifting off. Then, if anything wakes me up I'm most likely up for the day. Hence why I'm sitting in front of my computer with a big cup of coffee hours before my alarm will be going off.

But I'm okay. I have a Walking Dead Let's Play queued up on YouTube (I've never yelled so much at a Let's Play) and an open work schedule that I can shimmy a nap into. Not that I'm getting much work done with how severe my depression has been lately. But, again, I'm okay. At least trying to be.

A glimpse at our Thanksgiving feast

Ugly cheesecake, crescent rolls as big as your head, and my first attempt at cooking with stoneware! Shockingly, everything turned out delicious. Even my rookie cheesecake. +20 to cooking!

I hate no shave November -_-

Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Unboxing

The lighting sucks in my house. Seriously, who has fluorescent lights in their living room?

Recipe Test - Parmesan Crusted Chicken

For those who don't already know, my husband is a very picky eater. One way to definitely win him over in a meal is chicken. Man loves him some chicken. And then there's the cheese... Man can definitely take on some cheese

Trying my hand at parmesan crusted chicken just seemed like the right thing to do. I had some issues with this recipe, mostly my own fault. I didn't put garlic powder in the breading mix - my love of garlic has caused my supply to run dry - and I forgot the Italian seasoning. Also, the person who wrote the recipe says to put the chicken in a bowl and put (an unknown quantity of) flour over it to coat, but I'd recommend putting your raw chicken in a freezer bag an putting half a cup of flour in with it. I prefer to do it only a few pieces at a time. Shake that baby up until covered.

This was also the first time I attempted frying breaded chicken in a frying ban. I've always preferred baking or deep frying, or cooking unbreaded chicken. I had issue with one piece not being cooked all the way through. Again, personal issue and not a reflection of the recipe.

This recipe had potential and may be considered a jumping off point for future cooking learning experiences.


+1 to cooking, poorly cooked chicken has been added to your inventory

Christmas time must be here...

It wouldn't be Christmas time without GrumpButt's holiday cheer!

Poor Kulu.

Cheesecake and Cats

Detroit - Become Human Trailer

Does anybody remember Kara? The video released to premier the PS3 engine that would go on to create games like Heavy Rain? She's finally returning in a game of her own!

I'm pumped.

Happy Birthday, My Husband

Look at this handsome devil.

That is all.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

To Mom,

Beautiful and always classy, you've always been an inspiration to me. Thank you for all the support you've given me without question over the years. I hope you have an amazing and relaxing day!

I love you more than I could possibly express.

Crochet Circle

I had the greatest conversation with one of my best friends tonight over Skype. I haven't been able to talk to much of anyone other than the Jess lately because I've grown into a recluse with three tumorous cats attached. Therapeutic doesn't even adequately explain how wonderful it was to spend nearly seven hours casually talking and crocheting with her.

I miss my friends.

They all live so very far away.

If you are someone who I'm good friends with and would like to get in touch with me, the two best ways to get in touch with me at the moment are Skype and email. You can use the link in the right side bar to email me, or comment below to give/receive Skype usernames!



By the way, my left arrow key only works 10% of the time and it's really annoying me. And I'm supposed to be waking up in four hours.......f.

Game of Thrones Season 6 Teaser

Airing in April, after winter has come and gone. Am I the only one who sees the irony in that?

When Geeks Carve Pumpkins

This is still one of my favorites, though! We did this several years ago when we were still in high school.

Life is Strange.

I just finished watching the last episode of Life is Strange, streamed by Felicia Day. No spoilers here, I promise. Oh goodness. Oh gracious. Jaw dropped. Rendered speechless. Be aware: this series is very intense and touches on some very rough subjects so trigger warning.

I'm just in shock.

I thought one thing...and then another...and this other thing happened...and Chloe is a *grumblegrumble*...

I would definitely recommend it if you're interested in intense, dramatic gameplay.

I love my hair!

It wouldn't be the internet without pictures of cats.

 

 Kulu - who you will probably see the most pictures of because he is just so damned photogenic and will wear spiffy outfits.

Mischief - aptly named. 

Lulu - queen, vampire, and occasional vulture. 

By the way, I hate that couch and am planning on setting it on fire.

In the beginning...

I'm not going to lie, this isn't my first rodeo with a blog. Not by a long shot. However, every time I start a blog, it ends up being influenced by others around me who are blogging and famous bloggers out there in the bloggerverse. My subject matter ends up being a few lonely fractiles of my personality - an incomplete and inadequate representation of me.

No more, I say! I've decided to go back to the heart of what blogging is supposed to be about. I'm planning on posting whatever the hell I want to post about with no thought towards subscribers, directed content, or advertisers. This will be a place for funny videos, honest game and product reviews, recipes requested by my family and friends, and every itch I need to release onto the internet.

How very Tumblr-esc of me, right? I believe it's time to take that style of blogging back from an over-cluttered medium that should really be meant for artists - because, seriously, have you seen some of the videogame themed art on there?

On this blog, you will be able to find funny videos, exciting game trailers, reviews of a large variety, recipes created and/or loved by me (a cook-in-training with a very picky husband), cat photos, and much more personal nonsense. It will be a place for my friends, my family, and anyone else with similar interests to come and bloom in an environment where it's okay to be spontaneous.