Being pretty and loving dinosaurs

Prepare yourself for girly crap.

     I'm not the best dresser in the world, and I've very aware of that. I like loud colors, designs and patterns that reflect things I love and tend to be...well...never boring. I especially love things that show off my loves and fandoms, like my Harley Quinn Converse and a rainbow of themed shirts.

     I have a couple dinosaur themed shirts, my favorite being a yellow one with cute dinosaurs cussing at flaming comets whizzing towards them. Sadly, I've recently lost my favorite necklace with a trex skeleton on it. As much as I love dinosaurs, I don't have a ton of prehistoric gear.

     But that doesn't mean I don't want more. Cause I really, really do.

     The trick is trying to find something that reflects your passions that isn't just more funny t-shirts. I wanted to find cute things, pretty things, hell even down right girly things that I could wear when I'm feeling fancy.

     So I've made it a goal to try and find the best dinosaur girly things. I even did my best to put together "outfits" like they do in those lady magazines, so I paired some of the dresses with necklaces, shoes and stuff.

     I'll also toss in some just...weird and funny stuff I found too, because some things just need to be shared with the whole world.

• Dinosaur outfits

1) Super cool black and white dinosaur skirt by Bad Bunny Shop $40

     They also have leggings if you don't want a skirt. I assume you'd pair this with a cool black top and an attitude. I'd pick out one of the tops from the same site, because they're pretty rad and fit the style.
     I don't know how I feel about the fact the skirt is so high up on the torso, but I guess that's the style of it?

     Either way, it's really cool, and I love that it's black and has skulls on it.


     I would probably wear this with it....

A cool trex skeleton necklace from Candyfloss Sera $20

This badass bracelet from Sugar Me Up Too $13

Scaly shoes from Irregular Choice (not etsy) $80

     These also come in black, but I like the silver ones. They're not really...dinosaur to be honest, but they have scales and that's pretty sweet.


2) Black and white Dino dress from Weird Wearhood $40

     I really like this dress because of it's color pallet and cut. Seems like it would be really comfortable.

     I would probably wear this with it...

This awesome necklace at The Lysine Contingency $12

Or if you want something a little cuter, this necklace from Marmarsuperstar $20

3)  My favorite orange skirt from Oxygen Impulse $35

     I've been in love with this skirt for a long time. I see it at the major anime conventions by my house every year, and I'm always too broke to get it. It's orange, it's got awesome dinosaur skulls on it...I just love it so much.

     I need to make it a priority next year. Or just snag it one of these paydays. Damn I love it.

     I assume it would go good with any shirt, really, since it's a cotton skirt that's meant to be worn with or without leggings. I'd honestly wear it with some black leggings and my Converse, because I'm me and that's just how I dress.      I have a pair of orange Doc Martins, so I might wear them with the skirt as well.

     Did I mention I like the color orange?

     I'd probably wear this with it...

This boss as hell raptor necklace from Sushi Studios $20

     Double sided, orange, amazing.

     There's also bronze versions of the necklaces from The Lysine Contingency that would pair well I think. I had one that looked just like it with a trex skull, and that's sadly the one that's MIA at the moment. :(

Maybe this awesome trex ring from Truant Accessories if it came in my size $85

     I have tiny baby hands.

• Now for the ridiculous

1)  I can't tell if I love this or not. Weird "dinosaur" dress from Coquetry Clothing $90

     Ok so...it's spandex. I don't know if that's a pro or a con. Both?
     I'm so torn about this stupid outfit. Because it is stupid, but it's also sparkly and has a hood. So I like it, but I kind of hate myself for liking it. When would I ever wear this? Halloween? Akon?

     I don't. Know.

     But I kinda want it.

     Also, there's an orange hood, but not a complete dress. Maybe just the hood?

     They also have two piece sets that have a longer "tail" to it, which is cute. I can't wear it because I would send the masses running for the hills, but maybe a thinner person could pull it off.

2) Amazingly gaudy trex heels from Kaylastojek $270

     Wow. Just. Wow.

     I'm pretty sure I'd break my ankle taking one awkward step, but they are pretty neat. I've posted about these before on the blog, but they're worth mentioning again since we're talking about clothing and such.

3) Life Finds A Way by Drunk Girl Designs $21

     No fucking comment needed.

Things I simply *must* have.

They will be Mine. Oh yes...

I have a very real problem of falling down the rabbit hole of dinosaur themed shopping. It always starts so innocent...a seemingly harmless visit to a paleontology Facebook page or stopping in to visit r/dinosaurs on Reddit. I see something mildly interesting so I click....then follow that link...then another...and another...

Then suddenly I have an entire catalog of shit I must have in my life.

I decided the best way to cope with the fact that I have a crazy obsession with dinosaur themed anything, is to share and possibly infect others with this adorable virus. 

Since my list is very long, I've picked out some of my top favorites to share. It goes without saying that literally any Papo or Shielch dinosaur toy that's out there must be mine, so I'll skip posting a long list of all those that exist.

Instead, this is the more fun or truly amazing items I've come across during my late night Etsy and collector site binge-fests.

Sorry in advance for the expensive crap you're about to want. 

PS: I've saved the best one for last.

The List

1.) Inflatable T-rex costume ---- $100

How is this not the best one, you ask? Because this one is something that will eventually be mine in the future. I have a goal of owning this wondrous creation in 2016, either for A-Kon or for Halloween.

These awesome suits have become something of an Internet sensation, and I have yet to get sick of seeing them. People don these amazing costumes and do the most insane things, from ice skating, to pole dancing to competing in American Ninja Warrior. 

They're so incredibly doofy and cute that it's hard not to just adore the hell out of them. 

Plus, not only are they license from Jurassic World, they're WAY cheaper than the realistic Walking with Dinosaur style suits that cost well into the thousands.

It's the best of both worlds: silly and you get to be a dinosaur. This is kind of a life goal of mine, and what I've wanted to grow up as since I was five.

2.) DinoStoreus Skulls, Skeletons and Full Flesh Models ---- $44 - $350

I wanted to start with the basics: awesome collectible statues. I think these are something every dinosaur fan would want/need, and they are as pretty as they are reasonable in price. 

You've got a couple options when it comes to these guys: skull, full skeleton and fully fleshed models. They're perfect desk pieces and I've seen these in paleontologists offices. Honestly, I was trying to pick my favorites, but I'd really love any of these pieces. They're all SO cool.

3.)  Regaliceratops bust from BlueDino ---- $179

I think I've gushed about my love for this Ceratopsian in the past, but it's worth mentioning again how freaking cool it looks.

This bust is really gorgeous. It's hand sculpted and painted by the artist, and I would kill a man to have it in my grubby hands. It does have the option to come unpainted for a little cheaper, but I'm pretty sure I'd botch any type of paint job. I have zero skill in that department. It'd end up looking like a toddler scribbled on  very nice piece of art and I'd probably have to kill myself.

I'm a pro at pining for stunning works of art though. 

I love how detailed it is, especially the frill, and how he kept the red theme from Julius Csotonyi's painting. Simply amazing.

4.) Trilobite Plushie from PaleoGirl Crafts ---- $43

HOW ADORABLE IS THIS GUY??

I cannot get over how fluffy and sweet his little face is. Yes, ok...this isn't a dinosaur but good lord do I love Trilobites. 

As soon as this brilliant woman is taking commissions again, we're having a conversation about a Tiktaalic....

5.) These ridiculous as fuck dinosaur heels  ---- $260

Because I'm a lady with refined taste and class.

Plus, those are totally the same T-rex toys I have and their jaws open and close. That's just fancy.

6.) Custom Baby Raptor Sculpture ---- $70

This is so beyond cute. Not only can this sweet little dude look however you want, but he is all curled up like he's fresh from his egg. I want to snuggle him! 

It's always cool to see dinosaurs in different poses besides roaring, fighting or charging. Don't get me wrong, those are all awesome, but I do love seeing babies and sleeping dinosaurs too.

It makes them feel like real animals, which they were, and not mythical monster-beasts.

Either way, this guy is fantastic and I need an orange one in my life one day.

Side note, I wish they had feathers. :C

7.) Baby Raptor Blind Box by Rebor -- ~$5 for one or ~$40 for the full set

Two baby raptor things!? So neat, right?!

I don't think these guys are available stateside. The only place I could find them is at everythingdinosaur.com, and everything is in Euros. 

They're cute as hell little blind boxes that come in different colors. I really adore all of them and per Rebor style, always pretty and well detailed. I really hope they come across the pond and pop up at something local.

Looking at you, GameStop and ThinkGeek. Don't fail me.

8.)  Dimorphodon Judy and Punch by Rebor ---- ~$45

Yet another amazing find and correct...they're also not dinosaurs.

I KNOW, CALM DOWN.

But c'mon...these come as a pair and they have names. I love them so much, and I love that Judy is in flight while Punch looks up lovingly at her. I'm not usually big on the flying reptiles -- I mean, I do think they're really neat, but they've never been my top favorites. These little dudes are just too cool and they'd look so good in the collection.

I guess I should give pterosaurs more love.

I think most people will recognize those pterosaurs from Jurassic World as the "trex head flying dinosaur hybrid", to which I say, get the fuck off my blog you filthy peasant they're actually real animals and not hybrid.

I had a conversation with a coworker a couple months ago involving this creature, and it amazed me that he thought they were one of the genetic experiments. In looking up the information about it, because I'm not as well depth in pterosaurs, Dimorphodons are commonly searched for as "the trex flying dino from Jurassic World". 

To be fair, I only knew about them because I watch a lot of dinosaur documentaries and I remembered them from one of of the many that were on Netflix (grumble, grumble), so I'm not acting like I'm so snooty jerk.

Well...I kinda am. More people should watch dinosaur stuff, damnit!!

9.) Feathered T-rex toy from Collecta --- $25 (though I've seen it go for like $70)

That's right! Finally a feathered T-rex!! 

This toy just came out and my god I want it. You don't see not naked T-rex toys ever, so when this one hit the market, it started to sell out right away. 

I love the color pallet of this dinosaur and the feathers looks so cool. I'm glad to see model companies starting to embrace scientifically accurate dinosaurs these days. 

It warms my heart. 

10.) New Papo dinosaurs: Baryonyx and feathered Velociraptor ---- ~$26/each

MOAR FEATHERS!!

I just recently learned abut Baryonyx, and this dinosaur is so strangely cool looking that he's slowly becoming a new favorite. I'm also just tickled as hell about the raptor having feathers, because I'm yet again being a snobby asshole about things.

I really like the Papo line and I think they're going to stay at the top of my list. All of their toys are so incredibly detailed and often in the coolest poses. Very lifelike in the smallest details, and they pick the coolest dinosaurs to make toys out of. 

I only have the one Papo toy, my beloved Dimetrodon, and I always loved how his skin folds a little where his body is turning. 

It's the little thing that makes this toy company so damn good. That and they're fairly cheap and stateside, which is nice. 

Side note, the raptor isn't out yet, but the Baryonyx is. 

11.) Dinosaur Hair Clips from ThinkGeek --- $15

Because, again, I'm a lady with sophisticated class and taste. 

Cute, colorful, and sticking with the classics. You can't go wrong!

Plus, they'll go great with those freaking heels and the next item too.

12.) Double sided velociraptor necklace --- $22

Cause....cause orange and skeleton. :3

13.) T-rex shower head --- $20

Nothing says shower time quite like a roaring dinosaur skull vomiting steaming hot water at your face.

You can pick the color you want, which means it'll fit any theme for your bathroom and guys let's face it...can you really go back to your normal, not T-rex shower head now that you know this exists?

No. No you can't.

And the grand finale: 

14.) Raptor Body Pillow --- $50

Your wifu got nothing on my raptor. 

I need this guy to live next to my Souji Okita and I need to snuggle with it SO BAD. This is just too ridiculous not to have. I love that he's on the bed sheet background, I love that he's smiling, I love that he has feathers.

I just. Plain. Love it.

- M

A lot of goodness.

The holidays came a little late for me this year, so I'm just now getting my hands on some simply amazing things my family and friends got for me this year. One thing I actually meant to post about in the past was something given to me early in December, but I wanted to wait to post one big post about all the goodness.

But before I dive into my fan-girling, there was a new article posted about a new GIANT, sea-dwelling, ancient crocodile called Machimosaurus rex. This dude was about 30 feet long and lived during the Cretaceous period. There's a great video through the link as well as the article, so I recommend checking it out!


This year was awesome for really unique and cool dinosaur/paleontology swag. My best friend got me the first thing I'm going to gush about as a "silly gift", but it turned out to be one of the most entertaining toy I've had in a long time.
It may look like an ordinary giant green beetle, but it's actually a giant green beetle made of what I assume is compacted saw dust with little bugs encased in acrylic buried inside. The goal of this cute little thing is to "excavate" these little buggers out of the big beetle with the tools provided. It comes with a scraping/digging tool, a magnifying glass and a little brush to knock away the enormous amount of dust that happens when you start scraping away at a sawdust beetle.
While this toy is a blast, I do recommend digging on a solid surface that's easy to clean because you will get this shit everywhere.

The end result are these cute little bugs that I will be keeping in my tiny Zelda chest that makes noise when you open it.

Spider, Scorpion, and Beetle 

I'm a huge coffee drinker, so getting me a coffee mug for xmas is a fantastic idea. I have a really awesome clay coffee mug my best friend got me a couple years back, so finding one equal to my Stegosaurus mug was not an easy feet.

A feet only my partner in science, Jess, could accomplish.

I will never not thing color changing mugs are extremely cool, so this beautiful ridiculous masterpiece is right up my ally. In it's neutrual state, the picture is that of a Brachiosaur, T-rex, and Deinonychus hanging out swamp side, defying space and time. These awesome dudes are from three totally different time periods but that didn't stop them from getting together and having a good time.

You have no excuse for not seeing people now, if these guys can make this magic happen.

What's so cool about this, is not only do they slowly turn into skeletons when my favorite hot beverage is being poured into it, but little name plates appear at their feet like a museum display. I freaking love this thing!

Before coffee

After coffee

Before coffee

After coffee

I made a video on Instagram if you want to go check it out. XD

My father-in-law is a mastermind of giving cute gifts for xmas. Me and my husband have gotten some awesome things over the past years, but the Indominous Rex Chia Pet has got to take the cake.

The moment I put this picture up on Instagram, my feed blew up with likes (for me anyway, I'm not followed by a lot of people). 

I've never had one of these things before, so I'm looking forward to seeing how its uh...coat...grows? It's the perfect amount of ridiculous and I'm very excited. I'm actually soaking the planter now so I get plant the seeds today. I'll absolutely post progress pictures.

Last but certainly not least is something that I believe has sparked a whole new collectors need in my soul. I had heard about Canada's amazing dinosaur coins before, and was always so incredibly jealous at the country's open acceptance of science in their culture. I would love to see something like this in America's mint, but I think we still have a long way to go. These beautiful works of art are stunning, and many of them are still around to purchase. One of my favorite coins they have ever produced isn't a dinosaur, but is our fishy ancestor Tiktaalic, which I think I've talked about before. 

I adore this creature and everything it means for understanding the history of life and evolution, so having this amazing coin given to me last night was breath-taking.

Small side note, my dad was a huge coin collector when he was a kid, and had an impressive collection still when I was growing up. Sadly, that collection has since been lost or sold, so I always have a bit of a fondness to coin collecting, even if it wasn't something I personally got into. It was something he really enjoyed, and I'm sad the collection is no longer around.

I recently had heard on the latest I Know Dino podcast that the Canadian mint had put out another t-rex coin. I think I'm going to try and start buying these things and making my own, incredibly niche, coin collection. These things aren't in circulation of course, but they're beautiful and definitely collectors items. 

I love my new coin so much!!

I'm glad to finally be able to share these fantastic things on my blog. I'm going to hopefully get more studying done today for my Coursera class and finish up some housework, so maybe I'll post again soonish.

Until then!

-M