December is upon us. Specifically, December 2015. That means we are less than a month away from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Do you remember a time before Disney announced their purchase of Lucasfilm on October 31, 2012? We had no idea there would be more Star Wars movies, much less several of them. At first, the release date was so far away that it seemed like it would never arrive. Now, we’ll blink and it will be December 18. I’m trying to savor this time as much as I can because it will never be quite like this again. Not really. So, without further fuss, here are my suggestions on ways to count down to The Force Awakens:
1. Apply the Force to your sketchbook.
Like to draw, sketch, or make any kind of art? Stretch your muscles and create a new Star Wars-inspired illustration every day until Episode VII is here. Use pencils and pens or pose your action figures for photographs. Look at projects like Timothy Anderson’s 300 Days of Star Wars or this series of amusing Darth Vader meets The Far Side cartoons for inspiration. Share your work on social media so your friends can cheer you on. [Image: Timothy Anderson]
2. Wear it loud, wear it proud.
If you’re like me, you’ve managed to amass quite the collection of Star Wars apparel. T-shirts, sweatshirts, tanks, dresses—you name a type of clothing that could be printed with a Star Wars logo or design, and chances are good I own it. This month is the perfect occasion to rotate through all your Star Wars gear. Wear a different piece of your Star Wars wardrobe every day until The Force Awakens. If you feel so inclined, go ahead and plan your outfit for the first showing too. It is a special occasion after all.
Finishing touches on a #captainphasma inspired cape dress. Want your own for #forceawakens? Message me for deets! pic.twitter.com/zodeLvwdHe
— Elhoffer Design (@elhofferdesign) November 24, 2015
3. Be the Jedi Master of sewing.
While we’re on the all important topic of planning your viewing ensemble for the first time you see The Force Awakens: consider making a costume! You can bet there will be several folks dressing up for the event. I’d recommend avoiding anything with a mask or tall headdresses that could obstruct the views of others, but Jedi or Sith robes or themed outfits like the ones designer Catherine Elhoffer is making (she takes custom orders) would be perfect.
4. Binge all the Star Wars.
An obvious idea to increase your pre-The Force Awakens excitement is to watch the films again, but why stop there? Dive into Star Wars: The Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels for the first time. You can commit to serious binging or plan to watch a single episode a day until the 18th. If you need more of the galaxy far, far away for your ears, search for Star Wars podcasts on iTunes. There are several to keep you busy.
5. Chug blue milk.
Hone your cooking skills by making themed treats throughout the month of December. Bake your Christmas treats using Star Wars cookie cutters and put Leia buns on all your cupcakes a la the above design from Jenn Fujikawa. Put blue food coloring in your milk every morning until you see the film.
How are you counting down to The Force Awakens? Share your suggestions in the comments or come talk to me on Twitter.
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Featured Image: Lucasfilm/Disney
