​When it comes to Geeky Gifts, I've been trying to think of some more interesting things to share with you guys. Gifts are always fantastic and wonderful to give as well as get, but sometimes there are other uses for the things I find. This week we're going to explore the fun and wondrous world of geeky parties, the kind that celebrate the end of summer!

I guess there's a few things you all should know about me. 1. I love Star Trek more than Star Wars (but they're both epic) and 2. I will never steer you wrong when it comes to anything involving food. Because, food is in my blood! I'm Sicilian, so that's a total possibility. As I was looking for some fun recipes, I got caught up in the fun world of Geek and the wide selection of cooking utensils that go along with just about anything. 

Given the fact that it's still summer, and a million degrees outside, there are a few key must haves I utterly encourage everyone to have in their kitchens. One of them being ice molds! I happen to have a Batman one myself (I don't have an obsession, it's more like a collection) and they're awesome. These molds come in all kinds of fun shapes and sizes. From Batman to Gummy Bears, and even Star Wars and Doctor Who. Nothing says Geeky Summer like a giant TARDIS in your lemonade. Or how about a giant Death Star? Believe it or not, they even have bullet shaped ice trays, a giant 20-sided dice mold, and a wonderful mold that makes glasses…out of ice. Now that is cool. Thanks to the material these molds are made out of, they can be used for just about anything. Jell-O, chocolate, candies, even caramels. Anything you can think of, can be made out of these fun geeky molds.
 
Also, you should definitely have some really awesome glasses at your party. Because they help to add a layer of geekiness to the event and it’s just nice to see everyone drinking from themed glasses. But, if you don’t have those, thankfully, glasses with nerdy things on them aren't hard to find. A wide array of them can always be found on the internet, but they can be found in the most surprising of places. I suppose this also falls into that category of 'what do you count as a party glass?' because we're all different. Obviously disposable glasses win out because of how easy a clean-up they are, yet those are often not my top pick. Amazon features a large selection of nerdy glasses to drink your favorite beverage out of. Here, though, is not where my large selection of cups taking up the top shelf of my cupboard has come from. Walmart, oddly, has a great choice for plastic nerdy cups! 

Yes, I know, they're meant for kids, and that's awesome too. But when you're having a party, nothing says, 'great party' like having a nice drink in a Batman cup (seriously, it's not a problem. I can stop when I want!), or maybe you just want to chill at a party that has the all the Avengers on cups! That's not all, feeling in a Disney mood? Good news! They have those too! Even cute, random, little monster's and all kinds of fun things. Now, I know what you're thinking… where can I find these and how much will they set me back? I don't know where they're located in Walmart, but you can find them on their website, or wander the store until you find them (and maybe some fun kiddie birthday party decorations. Because you're an adult and you can party however you want to), but I do know these cups aren't that pricey. I’ve found a few for under a dollar, and I'm pretty sure they're just always like that. So, if you're interested in having a fun cup for your fun party, find a theme and find a glass. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
 
Drinks and ice covered? Brilliant, now it's time to talk snacks. There are plenty of fun things to have at a party, chips, dip, and of course… cookies. Why cookies? Because they're tasty for one, and for another, because maybe it's time to break out those really cool cookie cutters you bought. Whatever nerd theme you're going with for your party, I guarantee you can find some nerdy cookie cutters. With many a fun shape, you can make any fandom themed cookie you so wish to. Amazon has a huge selection of specific cookie cutters, but I've also found these geeky cookie cutters in random stores around malls. Just remember to bake safely! And by safely, I mean share… because nothing says, "we're friends" like "here, have a cookie".

I hope you guys enjoyed these picks! If you've found anything you want to share, feel free to tweet me @NerdsThatGeek or comment here and hopefully this helps make your end of summer parties as geeky as can be! 

​With it being, well into summer, I thought it was time for a search for some 'just because' gifts. Now, these can be for yourself, someone you love, or something to look forward to! Some of these gifts are a bit on the pricier side. Why? Mostly because it sounded like a fun idea! So, buckle up, tighten your wallet, and hide that credit card, because we're about to embark on a journey of awesome. And where we're going, price doesn't matter!

Okay, growing up I hadn't seen Star Wars, until one day, I was about 7, and my dad realized the mistake that this was. He pulled the original VHS out and we sat down and watched them consecutively in one night. It. Was. Life. Changing. I'm talking, the original, first edition, VHS tapes, with no modifications. Back when the Lightsabers were white in A New Hope. When I found this geeky gift, you can bet I was excited. I don't care what your nerd level is, who doesn't want a Lightsaber? My sister, dad, and I would play battle with the foldable Sabers you can get at any store. As an adult, I wish I could recapture those memories. Thankfully, there are real life movie quality replica Lightsabers. You can find them all over the place online. From ThinkGeek, to Amazon, to ForceFX, finding a replica Lightsaber is within reach. But what about building your own, or customizing it? Well, thanks to Etsy, and other companies, you can have a custom blade. Just know, that these could easily set you back $90-$500, but it's something that's definitely a conversation starter. And who doesn't want to be a Jedi? You can get a Lightsaber in green, blue, red, and even white, purple, yellow and orange! Whatever color you want, you can find some place to make your very own, original Lightsaber handle and color. 
 
On the same note of replica's, do I have any Doctor Who fans in the house? Okay, well, your house, because you're reading this. Or maybe you're somewhere else, I don't know, but I'm in my house while I write this, and I am huge Doctor Who nerds. Which means, I love me some Time Lord replicas. Thanks to the wonders of the world wide web (do we still call it that? Did I just date myself with that term?) nothing is out of reach. Before I even thought to look at conventions for Doctor Who stuff, I used to search the web. Well, Amazon has a large selection of stuff, which is where I got my Vortex Manipulator for my Captain Jack(y) Harkness genderbend cosplay I used to dress in. (Wow say that three times fast!).
 
As I started to go to conventions, I soon realized just how much more there is out there in the world of replicas. I have a 10th Doctor sonic screwdriver, and a 4th Doctor scarf.
But there's also a bunch of new stuff out there. You can have the 4th Doctor's screwdriver, River Song's, The War Doctor's screwdriver, the new 13th Doctor’s sonic and you can even build your own. You can also find the psychic paper, a fob watch, and River's journal. You can also find replicas of every Doctor's coat, even Jack's (I have one~) and all kinds of other Doctor Who fun things! Make sure, to check out ThinkGeek, Amazon, and EntertainmentEarth. I've even seen these things at stores, like Barnes & Noble. Thankfully, these are under a $100, which is nice for use nerds!
 
Now, I am a huge Dragon Ball Z fan. My dad and I used to watch it on Cartoon Network when I was a teenager, and for me, that's a series that has a lot of memory behind it for me. I really loved that show. Well, good news for DBZ fans, you can have your very own set of Dragon Balls. Now, I know for a fact they sell them on Etsy as a set, but here on Amazon, you can buy them separately if you want a specific number. 4 was always my favorite, because I adored Gohan. Not to be left out on the anime love, Sailor Moon has their own set of replicas, and my personal favorite is their life like, metal casts, of the staff's, wands, lockets and scepters! You can find these on Amazon, and especially Etsy.

Alright guys, that's it for today, but keep your eyes opened for more replica related blogs, as there are literally thousands more of them, I want to share with you. If you've got any replica's you want to share, feel free to tweet them to the @NerdsThatGeek Twitter account or just drop what you discovered in the comments field! 

Okay. I already know what the astute reader of this article is thinking, why on earth would I go here? Because just the other day, I said there would be no trip down memory lane when it comes to the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book series on NTG, and here I am writing a piece on its enduring legacy. But I ask that you bear with me for a moment. Because my intent here was never to go back on my word, but there is a story worth discussing when it comes to this saga, since it is quite amazing that a trilogy of books that feature some folk-lore related tales of terror continue to be held in such high regard after all these years.

I mean, they had to have done something right to be this beloved after all this time and be written about en masse all over the internet in the past few weeks, since so many scribes have taken the time to discuss how it influenced their love of horror and writing in general. Which is quite frankly, one hell of a feat. Because I did take a moment to open these books after all this time and I have to say, the stories really don’t hold up that well. They’re simple in nature, to the point where there’s really nothing complex to the tale in question, and heck there’s even some silly ones plopped into each book for good measure. If anything, this little surprise really begs the question, how can these books be this well regarded after all these years?

Well the answer to that question, lies within the art and the stories themselves. Because while the writing is simplistic in nature, it’s also supremely effective, because it strips away any fluff or exposition and plunges the reader right into the heart of the situation at hand. Which in turn allows for the reader to experience the raw emotion present in said story, and the emotion present on the page here, is fear. For a vast majority of the stories in this saga, minus the goofy ones, really do prey upon our greatest fears. Ghosts, the dead returning to life, death in general and things we don’t understand are all a part of this trilogy and that’s how these stories become supremely effective and stay with us.

But we do have to talk about the art as well, because without it, this book series would have been a laughing stock. Because Stephen Gammell’s work here, is horrifying to say the least. If anything, it’s best to say that he managed to capture the essence of a nightmare in his artwork, and creatures like the one featured in ‘The Thing’ still give me chills to this day because they look like something from another world and they genuinely capture the power of our imagination and for anyone who thinks that maybe, just maybe, alternate artwork would be just fine here, please bear in mind the publisher tried that. They straight up added watered down artwork in 2011 and it was so bad and removed the audience from the experience in such spectacular fashion that every original drawing was restored to the trilogy in a 2017 reissue.

The bottom line is that this book series was truly lightning in a bottle. It found a way to strike fear into the core of our souls, it brought the darkest recesses of our imagination to life and its enduring legacy is that it is one of those rare book sagas that lives up to what it advertises. Because these are indeed some scary stories, the kind best examined in the light, and it is no wonder that they are being written about ad nauseam right now by so many, because they deserve their day in the sun. For back in the day, these books were banned and reviled by parents everywhere for their subject matter, so here’s to hoping that all the love they’re receiving right now on the world wide web, engenders a new generation to seek them out and celebrate them so that they continue to live on and terrify. 

​We here at Nerds That Geek, like to think we've seen a lot of nerdy things in our day. I for one, have been on the lookout, however, for the most expensive of all the geeky gifts to own. Why? Why not!? Sometimes, it's fun to look at all the things I have yet to afford, but thankfully, the internet it filled with many a picture. It's kind of like window shopping. But, I can do it from my bed, in PJ's and not be cold!

Do you love Batman? Because, I love Batman, a lot…there's nothing about this caped crusader that I don't love. Thanks to the powers of the internet, and some awesome people, you can be the ultimate fan and buy a Batmobile of your very own. Ranging in prices from $145,565.00 to $1,600,000.00 You can be the proud owner of any variation of this very iconic car. With so many different types to choose from, it's hard to pick a genre. I, on the other hand, am a fan of the cartoon that I grew up with (Batman: The Animated Series) and would have to pick that for my car. Of course, cars are not the only expensive things out there. You can also find personal submarines, life sized rocket replicas, actual functioning jetpacks, and even tanks. These are expected to cost a couple grand, easy. But what about something unique. Something, no nerd would think to go after.
 
I also found my personal new favorite thing on this search (that is if I ever get the money, I need to buy this), a Remote-Controlled Fire Breathing Dragon. It flies; it walks/stalks; it looks utterly awesome. You guys, for just $60,000.00 you could own your very own dragon. This is literally, my dreams come true. It would not only complete my collection of dragon statues, but make parties far more fun! Come on! It's an instant s'mores maker! Of course, with my dragon, I would need my very own Game of Thrones Iron Throne replica. After all, what's another $29,999.99? It'd all be fancy in my living room.

Oh! Did anyone ever watch How I Met Your Mother? Remember how Barney had a real, life size Stormtrooper action figure in his home? Turns out, they're for sale. At just $3,850.00, this beautiful, stoic, figure can guard your home and strike fear into the hearts of rebel scum for years! If that's not enough Star Wars for you, I have good news. At $15,685.88, there is a life sized, AT-AT Walker. Think of how cool that would look standing in a garden! I think it'd be pretty epic myself. But, then again, I'd love anything from these picks!

If you have any expensive nerdy gifts you've found, please pass them this way! It's always fun to see how amazing the world of nerd can be, even though it can get pricey. That's half the fun though, right?