Rotorua, New Zealand is famous for its bubbling geothermal landscapes and vibrant Māori culture. At Te Puia, we witnessed Pōhutu Geyser – the largest in the southern hemisphere – erupt in a spectacular display and spotted live kiwi birds, the beloved national symbol that gave New Zealanders their nickname (unrelated to the fruit!). We attended a powerful Māori cultural performance featuring the traditional haka, once used by warriors to challenge their opponents, and explored the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where students preserve the heritage of carving, weaving, and stonework. Later, we ventured to Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, where vivid geothermal pools, steaming vents, and the striking Champagne Pool made for an unforgettable hike through one of New Zealand’s most surreal landscapes.
We were blown away by the Hairy Feet Waitomo tour, which revealed incredible filming locations from The Hobbit and The Rings of Power. Surrounded by the dramatic limestone bluffs of the Mangaotaki Valley, every viewpoint felt cinematic. Our guide, Suzie, brought the experience to life with fascinating stories about the filming process and her family’s role in hosting the crew. To top off the day, we visited Spellbound Caves, where a serene boat ride beneath thousands of glowing bioluminescent worms created a truly magical finale.
Hobbiton was even more magical than we imagined – like stepping straight into Middle-earth! It was the main reason we finally made our long-awaited trip to New Zealand, and we planned the entire itinerary around the exclusive Evening Banquet Tour: a feast at The Green Dragon Inn followed by a lantern-lit stroll through the Shire. Thanks to a bit of luck (and backup planning), we ended up visiting three times in 24 hours – by day and by night, in rain and shine. Our timing couldn’t have been better, as just two weeks before we arrived, Hobbiton opened two fully furnished hobbit holes that we got to explore. Every detail felt alive, and after years of waiting, it was everything we hoped for and more.
I’ve always dreamed of creating a Land of Sweets Christmas theme after falling in love with all the pretty pink candy décor lining the craft store aisles. Inspired by my favorite childhood game – Candy Land (the 1984 classic!) – this holiday setup brings those sugary, pastel dreams to life with gingerbread houses, lollipops, and a touch of nostalgic magic.
On our Mediterranean cruise we visited 11 destinations in 6 countries across 2 continents aboard the world’s newest cruise ship, the Norwegian Viva. The places we visited included: 1) Italy (Venice, Trieste), 2) San Marino, 3) Croatia (Dubrovnik, Split), 4) Greece (Athens, Santorini, Corfu), 5) Turkey (Istanbul, Kusadasi/Ephesus), and Germany (Munich).
Our TMNT Mutant Mayhem Halloween was totally tubular! We served up shell-shocking fun for partygoers and trick-or-treaters alike—with gobs of glowing toxic ooze (both slime and jello shots), radical cowabunga crafting, and an epic superhero showdown that would’ve made Master Splinter proud. We also saw the return of RaphaElektra and DaredevElangelo!
This Astrid cosplay was such a rewarding project to build for my niece! I 3D printed nearly every part of her Viking gear – the battle axe, shoulder armor, and detail parts for the skirt and headband. The real fun came in the post-processing: painting and weathering everything to make it look authentically worn from dragon training. Watching her proudly wield her axe and channel her inner Astrid was the perfect reminder of why I love crafting and cosplay – it’s all about imagination, creativity, and a little bit of Viking spirit!
Our Loki Season 2 premiere party was filled with much mischief, and we tried everything! The menu included the death of Mobius’ salad, Love is a Dagger cocktail, Shapeshifter’s Skillingsbolle topped with Loki Charms, and Happy Meals with Mischievous McNuggets, Sylvie’s salty fries, and Time Variance Apples (TVA).