Star Wars: Han Solo Running Costume Vest

The inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon: Dark Side race weekend at Walt Disney World is less than one week away! Since I've already run the Star Wars Half Marathon: Light Side at Disneyland this past January, I'm eligible to participate in the Kessel Run Challenge (a special Coast-to-Coast Challenge that's specifically for the Star Wars races) and receive the Millenium Falcon medal.

I decided to take this opportunity to add an upcycled costume to my growing wardrobe of running costumes.

I first started with a black 100% polyester shirt (same material and feel as other running shirts) that I found for just $4 at a thrift store.

Step 1:  I took off the sleeves at the seam.

Step 2:  I chopped off the bottom of the shirt at the waist to make the final vest shorter.

Step 3:  I cut a vertical line down the front middle of the shirt to transform it into a vest.

Step 4:  I hemmed the arm holes and the bottom hem of the vest.

Step 5:  I used the leftover fabric from the sleeves and the shirt bottom to make pockets based on Internet pictures that I found of Han Solo's vest from "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope."  [If you're not already aware, Han Solo has different vests for ANH and RTJ.]  No, I did not use a template; I just eyeballed it and cut.

Step 6:  Now just add a white running shirt (I can use either a long sleeved or short sleeved one) and blue bottoms (either running tights or a running shirt), and I have quick & easy costume that is comfortable enough to run a race and adaptable enough to run in any type of weather.

DIY Star Wars expandable bracelets

For last year's runDisney inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon, I made some Star Wars themed Alex and Ani inspired expandable bangle bracelets.

Here they are:

After this year's Star Wars The Light Side Half Marathon weekend is over, I really need to get back to my crafting table and make some inspired by the new The Force Awakens characters, especially BB-8.

runDisney's Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend (The Light Side) startstomorrow & UBER free ride code

This will be a day long remembered.

Okay, I'm being a bit dramatic. But it's finally here!

I'm interested to see how different the atmosphere will be at the race this year with the recent changes to runDisney's costume policy.

At any rate, it's going to be a crowded weekend at the parks. Star Wars fans and runDisney fans will be converging upon the Disneyland Resort this weekend from all corners of the globe.

For anyone flying in for the race, I thought I'd share an Uber code for $15 off your first Uber ride (use code UBERRUNDISNEY). Useful for the trip between John Wayne Airport and Disneyland. Redeem it at link below. https://www.uber.com/invite/uberrundisney

May the Course be with You!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!

DIY Star Wars chocolates

Since "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" premiers in theaters next week, I'm hosting a Star Wars 6-movie marathon tomorrow.  So I thought it would be fun to serve chocolates in Star Wars shapes.

I bought these Kotobukiya ice molds from Amazon.  Dearth Vader, R2-D2, Millennium Falcon, and Han Solo in Carbonite.

I used 1 1/2 bags of chocolate chip morsels (the kind you bake cookies with) to fill all 4 molds.

To make the chocolate, I melted chocolate chips in a Pyrex measuring cup in my microwave for 2 minutes. I stirred it with a teaspoon until it was a smooth consistency.

Then using a teaspoon, I put dollops of chocolate into each ice cube mold. To flatten the chocolate, get rid of bubbles, and make sure that the chocolate got into each crevice of the mold, I lifted each mold and banged them up and down against the table a few times.

I set them aside to cool at room temperature overnight, but I found that they were too brittle when trying to remove them from the molds. So I stuck them in the fridge for a while and that worked perfectly.

Here is the final product. My favorite was the Millennium Falcon because of he level of detail.  The large R2-D2 can stand upright which is cool for a decorative effect. And the Darth Vaders seemed to be the best at sturdiness & ease of removing from the molds.

Now go forth and make some Star Wars chocolates. May the Force be with you!