The Portland Wizard Con may not be as big as Comic Con or even their Anaheim incarnation -Wonder Con. Even so, there was tons of great cosplay at the convention -giving Zeon and myself a great excuse to take a work vacation up to the Rose City. Here's some of the best cosplay we spotted throughout the weekend.

One of the best events of the whole weekend was the children's cosplay contest. There we were treated with cuties ranging from Sally and Oogie Boogie to...

head strong Harley Quinn. The contest was great because it was sponsored by anti-bullying charity The Stewart-Beavers Institute.

Not that anyone would ever dare to bully Rocket Raccoon.

The kid's contest was packed with cuteness, so it really would have been impossible to pick a best costume.

So it wasn't all too surprising when the judges announced that everyone was a winner and could collect a prize.

I mean really, would you want to be the one to announce to tiny Rick and Daryl that they were any more or less awesome than balloon boy?

Chances are you're using a light in the room you're in right now, but it's probably not all too exciting. Home lighting is just one of those things people tend to buy, install and forget about, but these great lamps we featured on Homes and Hues are certain to get and keep your attention. 

From floating lights to dripping ones and from color-changers to herb-growers, these great lamps will not only make your space brighter, but also make your home decor a little more brilliant as well.

See the full list at Homes and Hues: 10 Brilliantly Beautiful Lighting Options

There are a lot of twists on Mario cosplay characters, but I totally love this great punk take on Princess Peach. She was one of a whole group of punk Super Mario characters cosplaying at Ichibancon. This lovely cosplayer is Amanda Finley and the photo is by Double Stomp Productions.

If this look seems a little familiar to you, it's probably not because you've seen a similar cosplay before, but because Nevermind the Blocks is a popular NeatoShop tee that we've featured on the main blog before. 

Via Fashionably Geek

It's easy to love comic books, even if you're only a casual fan of the movies that are made based on the characters. It's a bit harder to love the big comic book publishing companies though -and the more you learn about them, the more you have a hard time defending their actions. 

This great Top Tenz article provides ten great examples of comic book companies screwing over the creators that developed all the characters we've come to love. While you probably already heard a bit about the whole Jack Kirby issue, you might not know some of the stories, like how Marvel countersued Gary Friedrich after he lost his case against them regarding royalties for the Ghostrider movie -claiming he had no right to sell merchandise based on the character he created.

There are those who think you just can't have enough glitter -and then there's the rest of us. If you are one of the non glitter lovers than you know one of the substance's most annoying attributes is that it sticks to everything and seems to never leave. That's why SendYourEnemiesGlitter.com is such a brilliant idea. You can finally torture those you truly hate without doing anything remotely illegal or unethical. 

So how much does this marvelous torment cost? Only $9.99 AUD. Sure that's a lot for an envelope filled with glitter, but keep in mind that they also prevent you from having to touch the terrible stuff and they provide you with a return address that isn't traced back to you.

Via Nerd Approved

Sometimes the journey is greater than the destination, and sometimes the hotel room is the best part of the vacation. That really might be the case in vacations that involve stays in these strange wonderful hotel rooms we featured on Homes and Hues. 

From Batman-themed love hotels to converted airplanes and from hotels built just above the water to those built under water, these hotels are totally fantastic and utterly strange. 

Don't miss the full list at Homes and Hues: The 7 Strangest Hotel Rooms On Earth

The Bat-slap meme is just one of those things that makes me crack up every time. If you're like me, that makes this dry erase board a must-have for your home. Just imagine getting to change the meme every time you think of something new and funny and letting your friends edit the board to write in their thoughts. It even works for your to do list as Batman can threaten to slap you if you fail. It's the perfect home accessory that combines function and style.

Via Nerd Approved

Before someone even enters your home, your doormat lets them know a little about you. Are you friendly, efficient, OCD? What about geeky? That's right, now you can express your nerdy self with all kinds of great doormats. 

Over on Homes and Hues, we rounded up 12 such geektastic rugs to greet your guests with. From fantasy to gaming and from Doctor Who to IT jokes, whatever your favorite geek interest, there's sure to be a great rug out there to make you smile.

Check out the full list of nerdy rugs over on Homes and Hues: 12 Wonderfully Geeky Doormats

When you get a tattoo, it's important to find a shop that not only does good work, but does good work in the style you're looking for. If you're looking for an utterly amazing tattoo, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more qualified shop than Adorned Precision Body Arts of Vancouver, given that they proudly declare themselves to be specialists in tattoos featuring unicorns with sharks for arms -aka, the best tattoos ever created.

Via Fashionably Geek

(Video Link)

If you are what you eat then it shouldn't be too surprising that squirrels are all a bit nuts. They're so nuts, in fact, that they don't even mind upgrading themselves into Cybermen just to get a few more tasty treats. Creator Emma Young thought the squirrels in her garden might just be that kooky, which is why she was willing to take hours of her time to dismantle a novelty radio and fill it with peanut butter and nuts. I'd say it was well worth the efforts for this great footage -now she just needs to add a few choice Cybermen sound bites to the footage.

Via Nerd Approved

Waffles are one of those perfect foods, but what could make them better? How about pulled pork and barbecue sauce? We're not just talking about a savory waffle with pulled pork inside (which would also be tasty), but a waffle made completely out of pulled pork. 

Instagram's the Vulgar Chef created this amazing monstrosity and even capped it off with bbq sauce, mac n' cheese, and, of course, bacon. He also made a similar creation with beef hash and a Spaghetti-os pizza that looks like vomit but probably tastes like heaven. Be warned though, as the name implies, there is a lot of foul language at the link.

Via That's Nerdalicious

The Neatorama corporate New Year's Eve party is lit with computer screens and decorated with little more than John's annoying 2015 blinking flash drive that plays the worst midi version of Auld LangSyne you've ever heard, but for those who are hoping to ring in the New Year with something a little more exciting, our newest Homes and Hues article is packed with great decorating ideas that are sure to impress.

From photo backdrops to balloon-covered ceilings, your party guests will think you spent days prepping your decor, while the actual execution was much quicker. 

Don't miss all the fun and fab ideas over on Homes and Hues: 10 Simple and Beautiful New Year's Eve Party Decorations

Santa might use a sleigh to do his Christmas deliveries, but you can bet your bottom dollar that if he were to switch to a more modern mode of transportation, he'd be happy to get behind the wheel of on of these cuckoo holiday vechicles featured on InventorSpot.

From graffiti to menorahs and from planes to trains, these people are driven by the holiday spirit and they aren't afraid to show it. They might just put those reindeer antler window accessories of yours to shame.

Gingerbread men are an icon of the holiday, but more for their fun distinctive look than for their taste. In fact, many people, myself included, think they are just too dry and cardboard-like most of the time. Fortunately though, these little cookie men have finally been offered a little bit of help in the flavor department with the help of Oh Bite It, where you can find a recipe for deep-fried gingerbread men. In the good old fashioned tradition of "everything's better deep fried, I can't wait to give these suckers an oil bath in my own home.

Via That's Nerdalicious 

Christmas is right around the corner, but it's not too late to get decorating if you've fallen behind. Over on Homes and Hues, we rounded up 11 helpful ideas of great last minute Christmas decorations. From Christmas tree alternatives to door decorations and more, whatever you're looking to spruce up just before the big day, you'll be covered with this handy article.

The tips are a perfect way to add a little extra flair to an already decorated house or to get ready for a last minute holiday party or dinner. 

So if you have any decorating left to do, don't miss the newest post over at Homes and Hues: 11 Last Minute DIY Christmas Decorations That Are Easy and Cheap