2. Don't Get Cocky

For my second pick, I had to go with another classic from the original of the original trilogy. Han's wise words to Luke were simple: "Don't get cocky." That's a good a resolution as any, and if you plan on staying on target with last years dreams and goals make sure you don't let your vision get clouded with delusions of grandeur (yep, that was a runner up for this list).

3.  There's Always A Bigger Fish

Going with a similar theme, I think it's important to remember that there's always a bigger fish. This means two things. First, it means that no matter how ambitious your are, there's always going to be someone who's more "ambitious," than you (see #2). And second, more importantly it means that you don't need to worry about the big fish, because even they are dwarfed by some other fish. Don't waste your time this next year comparing yourself to other fish. Let the big fish worry about bigger fish while you focus your energies on personal projects and improving yourself.

4. Your Focus Determines Reality

I know, I already featured a Qui Gon quote, but he's got some pretty good anecdotes hidden within Episode One. A favorite of mine is this: Your focus determines your reality. Like I alluded to above in #3, this next year you don't need to focus on the those around you because, well, your focus determines your reality. If you only focus on what others are doing you're likely to never get anything done yourself.

5. Do or do not.

Star Wars has existed for over 35 years and has evolved from a simple movie with a simple story to a world-wide icon. Every corner of the earth has heard of Star Wars and millions upon millions of people have had the pleasure of participating in the epic adventure. Not surprisingly, there are a lot of Star Wars fans out there. I've encountered a lot of self-proclaimed Star Wars fans in my time and I've come to understand that being a Star Wars "fan," actually means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Honestly, what  really constitutes a Star Wars fan?

Is a true fan someone so well-versed in the movies that they can name the entire cast of the original Star Wars movie, including the actor who played General Dodonna? (It's Alex McCrindle by the way). Or is a true fan is someone who's read the every Star Wars book ever published (and even written a fan-fiction of their own)? Is a true Star Wars fan someone who regularly participates in Star Wars cos-play with the 501st Legion and owns at least a dozen collectible action figures? Or is a Star Wars fan simply someone who enjoyed a few of the movies? Before I get in to my thoughts on the subject, I invite you to take a second and think about what makes a "true," Star Wars fan for you.

As for myself, my inner pondering started on Google Plus. If you don't know, Google Plus is a social media website similar to Facebook. I was following a community of fellow nerds who also claimed to be Star Wars fans and came across this post:

In case you didn't read the accompanying caption, it reads "Did you see it INSTANTLY? real star wars fans see it instantly". What the post is alluding to is the fact that the seats in this car somewhat resemble the battle-droids present in the prequel movies. Don't feel bad if you didn't get it at first. I know I didn't, and that it really bothered me.

You see, if this is what it means to be a real Star Wars fan then anyone with a good eye for pop-culture references can join the club. While I didn't get the reference right away, a friend of mine who hasn't even seen all six movies got it without hesitation. By this definition he was the real fan and I was not. Since that was something I was not okay with, I immediately cracked my fingers, hunched over my computer, put my thinking cap on and dove a little deeper into the internet to learn what really makes a fan, a fan.

By definition, a fan is simply "someone who has a strong interest in or admiration for a particular person or thing." Fan is really just an abbreviation of the word fanatic, however, and fanatic carries with it the even more dubious definition of "a person filled with excessive and single-minded zeal, especially for an extreme cause."

Unfortunately, these definitions aren't that telling. Sure, it defines a fan as someone with "strong interest," in something, but that doesn't bring us any closer to an actual understanding of the word. I mean, whose to say what qualifies as having a strong interest? Furthermore, I not only think having a "excessive and single-minded zeal" towards Star Wars is unhealthy, but also not indicative of being a fan. If anything, its indicative of being crazy. 

As I continued my search, I quickly discovered that the internet was home to a plethora of various quizzes and tests you can take to challenge your Star Wars knowledge. There are tests to see if you are a "true," Star Wars fan, a "real," Star Wars fan and even a Wiki-How on how to become a Star Wars fan. At first, I thought I had found my answer. I took test after test, pitting my Star Wars knowledge and experience up against that of the quiz authors and seeing if I was truly the Star Wars fan I wanted to be.

This experiment, however, only brought disappointment. The online quizzes available essentially fall into three categories: Either they're short, painfully easy and tell you nothing; they're insanely hard, specific to some random pocket of Star Wars fandom and tell you nothing; or they are so poorly written and inaccurate that you can hardly finish the thing, and they still tell you nothing. With all of them claiming that they were THE quiz that would set you apart as a true Star Wars fan, I was left, yet again, with no clear answer as to what a Star Wars fan actually was.

I began to question everything about my Star Wars fandom. Was I really the fan I thought I was? I mean, I obviously don't know everything there is to know about Star Wars. There are Star Wars books I haven't read. There Star Wars videos I haven't seen. There are famous Star Wars celebrities I haven't met. And there are Star Wars collectibles that I do not own. This might sound strange, but I knew that I would never be the best at Star Wars. I seriously began to wonder, "Why do I even care about Star Wars?"

So I decided to re-watch all six movies. And that's when it hit me. Being a TRUE Star Wars fan (as I see it) is a lot like being true to yourself. In fact, I'm not sure being a Star Wars fan is something you necessarily choose. It may just be something that you are.

Simon Pegg echoed this thought when he said that "being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something."

In other words, if you are a true Star Wars fan you'll know you're a true Star Wars fan. I don't think you'll feel the need to tell people you're a fan, because I think it will be apparent. And I don't mean that people will notice your new Star Wars themed shoes and that's how they'll know. Instead, I mean that being a true fan of Star Wars will simply come out in your personality and who you are. And you know what? That may include buying a brand new pair of Star Wars shoes, but maybe it won't. 

To recap everything I've said, a Star Wars fan is someone who is honest with themselves about their love for the epic saga. If they're truly honest, the fact that they're a true fan of the series will be apparent in who they are. They might own hundreds of collectibles, do a great Chewbacca impression or know the exact height of every major character in the movies. Then again, maybe they've only seen the films once. And if they're really amazing, they'll even be able to look at some seats in a car and notice a resemblance the seats have with battle droids.

By my logic, there's no "one-size fits all," definition to being a Star Wars fan, and it doesn't matter how hard-core you are. That being said, I think there are some questions you can ask yourself introspectively to get a sense of your own Star Wars fandom.

1. When was the last time I thought about Star Wars without being prompted to?

2. When was the last time I brought up Star Wars in a conversation? 

3. What is my favorite and least favorite parts about Star Wars?

4. How has Star Wars changed my life?

5. Why am I even reading a blog about being a Star Wars fan?

4. The Star Wars Children's Book

3. The Star Wars Lunch Box

2. The Star Wars Tuque (or Beanie, for all you Americans)

As an added bonus, I thought I'd mention that a mock lightsaber is also awesome. For whatever reason, toy/replica lightsabers have the power to bring out the child in all of us. 

Surprisingly, there are several different Star Wars themed robes available to those so inclined. While the most popular has got to be the "Jedi," Bathrobe, you can find Boba Fett, Storm Trooper and of course Chewbacca versions. In my mind, bathrobes aren't a very popular item in the first place, but there is a good amount of people who do still wear them. It seems like the perfect combination, a bathrobe already kind of looks like Jedi robes... Just throw a logo on and you're done! Right?

Why it doesn't work: As I understand Star Wars accessories (namely clothes) you want to own them so that others can see them. The unfortunate part about owning a Star Wars bathrobe is that almost no one will ever see it. The function of a bathrobe is to cover yourself up either a) right after a shower or b) when you aren't clothed decently and need to throw something on quickly or c) for lounging around the house when you don't have company. All of these scenarios lead to the same result: Your Boba Fett Bathrobe will never leave the house. 

I wouldn't say the Star Wars themed bathrobe is the worst idea in the world, but the fact that the robe is Star Wars doesn't really enhance it in any way. Not to mention, there are higher quality robes more apt to fulfill their purpose of existence for less money than these Star Wars robes. If you're the kind of person who likes to laze around the house all day in their robe and still has frequent visitors, maybe this would be worth it. Otherwise, I would recommend buying something more comfortable and saving some money doing it.

This is another seeming match made in heaven. Han was frozen in carbonite, why not freeze his likeness into ice? I actually think the premise is pretty good. There are a few other Star Wars themed ice cube trays out there that cover everything from the Death Star to Darth Vader's helmet. Again, I love the idea.

Why it doesn't work: While I think some of the other ice cube trays are a little better, the Han Solo version is pretty darn awful. First of all, it only holds 6 smaller cubes, and then one giant cube of ice. The smaller cubes, when frozen, are almost entirely indistinguishable. I have tested it many times with different kinds of water, different freezing temperatures and different people. Over and over again I get the same responses: "Why are these ice cubes so small?" Seriously, they are tiny. So not only do they do a poor job at cooling your drink, but no one can even tell what they are until I show them the ice cube tray! 

The bigger ice cube is at least recognizable. I've had numerous people guess what it is just by looking at it. This however is a small victory as the ice cube is so giant that it won't even fit in half of my glasses. When I bring it out, it's to show people, and not to actually use. For these reasons I think the Han Solo Ice Cube Tray works best as an idea floating around on the interweb, and not in my freezer.

"Help! I need to throw a Star Wars party and I don't know what food to serve!" That was me once. A quick trip to the book store and $15 later, I was armed with a Star Wars cook book. I couldn't wait to start crafting some delicious Star Wars food for my friends! Then I opened the book.

Why it doesn't work: While I can't speak for all the Star Wars cook books out there, every Star Wars cook book I have either owned or seen has been almost completely useless. I say this because the recipes are generally in no way Star Wars "themed." It's not hard to play alliteration and throw a random Star Wars reference on to the front of any typical food you might make, and this is what a lot of Star Wars cook books do. The recipes themselves might be fine, but if you want to throw a Star Wars party, you're better off brainstorming some cool names yourself. Either that, or head over to Pinterest. You'll save money and probably find more clever adaptations of Star Wars food than anything you'll see in a cook book. I should give the cook books credit though, some of the names they come up with are pretty clever. I mean, the "Han-Burger?" Awesome. Too bad it's just a regular burger.  These dishes will be Star Wars themed in name only.

Again, while this isn't the case for every cook book, I would recommend that you generally stay away from them. I know, I might be a little too harsh on these books, but I'm still a little bitter about that one cook book and my Star Wars party... If someone does know of a particularly good book that contains pertinent recipes that actually feel tied to Star Wars (sorry, the Greedo Burrito is really just a burrito), please let me know in the comments below.

Jabba the Hummus would also probably make my list of favorites if I liked hummus...

Also, if you're curious, some of my favorite Star Wars themed dishes are "Jabba the Jello," (jello shaped like Jabba) and "Pizza the Hut," (Pizza cut to look like Jabba-- it's a Spaceballs reference, but still). Other runner ups are the "Sarlacc Pasta Pit,"(use your imagination), and "Blue Milk." All of which I found of Pinterest. While these names aren't quite as clever, when the dish is made people will actually be able to tell that it's a Star Wars dish just by looking at it. As for a cook book creation? You'll probably need those name cards because Wookie Cookies are just cookies :(

1. The Star Wars T-Shirt

This last point is sort of a cheat. Obviously Star Wars t-shirts and apparel can be absolutely amazing. The sad truth is, however, that for every Star Wars shirt that's awesome, there's probably two or three that either make no sense or are just plain bad. Of course design is inherently subjective and so you can feel free to disagree with me, but as far as I am concerned, some Star Wars shirts are best left un-made.

Why it doesn't work: Let's go through a short list of Star Wars Tees that just... don't work. Nothing says "I like pretending to be a Star Wars fan,"like a poor rendition of a Star Wars shirt. There's a lot of good shirts out there, so don't let yourself be caught wearing one of these:


Anything with "So-and-so is my homeboy," is never a good shirt. Ever.


For whatever reason, someone, somewhere thought that Darth Vader + Boom Box is cool. It's not. Yet there is still HUNDREDS of different iterations of the same shirt and none of them make any sense.


Just straight up bad T-shirt design is a problem with many shirts as well. If it's hard to read or see, then why even make it a Star Wars tee? Rhyme was unintentional.

Why would someone make this?

A dumb line can really ruin a potentially good shirt. First, the quote isn't "Luke, I am your father," it's "No, I am your farther." Second, if "Han Shot First," as is the popular phrase, than who shot second? If you really want to be an OT Stickler than the line should be "Greedo never shot," or "Solely Han Shot," (bad attempt at a pun).


Speaking of terrible puns... Star Wars has plenty of them!

And there you have it. Sorry if you have any of the items I mentioned above and are absolutely in love with them. I don't aim to sully your experience with your favorite Star Wars items and accessories. But next time you are looking for something to get a Star Wars fan out there, or for something to get yourself, you might want to consult this list. While I welcome anything and everything Star Wars, I've had the least pleasant experience with the things included in this list. But hey, given the opportunity, I'd still probably buy half these things again. 

There's a lot of different Star Wars websites out there. You're currently on one of them. Some of them are more well known. Perhaps you've heard of StarWars.com... If you don't then I don't even know what to say. Anyway, while you probably recognize many different popular Star Wars websites, there may be a few that you don't know of yet. These websites could expand your Star Wars knowledge or entertain you in a way only a Star Wars website can, and so I've compiled a list of a few Star Wars websites that I either recently discovered and think are awesome, or that I just want to make sure you're aware of. And no, Wookieepedia doesn't make the list. 

This delightful website is very useful for those times when a simple declaration of disappointment just won't do. As the websites instructs, this website is for use in "dire situations." Speaking bluntly, this website is nothing but a button. When activated, said button will replay the frustratingly inflected, dramatically drawn out, and seriously sad cry that Darth Vader releases when he learns that Padme is dead at the end of Episode Three. Five star web button.

There is also a app for android available here that will convert this delicious website into a widget so you can have 24/7 access to the heart-wrenching quote. 

Star Wars in the Classroom is a really cool website that helps teachers integrate the Star Wars saga into their teaching plans for all kinds of different educators. Not only is the premise of this website amazing, but I think it's something any Star Wars fan should try to support! Thus, if you know of any teachers who are also Star Wars fan I think you should heartily recommend this website to them. I know if Star Wars had been taught to me in High School I would have been a lot more inclined to finish my homework. Five star idea.

There are a bajillion(ish) different Star Wars podcasts out there. Some are pretty popular and so I won't mention them here, but most of them are more or less unknown. I have only listened to a select group of said podcasts but from my experience a lot of these podcasts are pretty boring. That being said, I really enjoy listening to the Full of Sith Podcast. In fact, it was through the Full of Sith Podcast that I discovered Star Wars in the Classroom! The episodes are a good length for me to listen to during my commute to and from work and they always stir up some good Star Wars questions that get me thinking. Five star podcast.

This one actually isn't a Star Wars website. That being said, they have a huge Star Wars section of costumes to choose from. The reason I am including it is because I have, on more than one occasion, been asked by people where they might find some good Star Wars costumes. Well, here is my answer. Amazon and E-Bay won't likely have anything good to offer you, but I've found CosPlay Sky to be pretty darn good for the cost. Of course I think it would be much better if you could make the costume yourself, but if that's not your thing and you still want to be an imperial office for Comic Con, this may be the website you're looking for. I was in need of a quick Luke Skywalker costume and so I ordered this costume from them. Shipping included it didn't cost very much and I was very pleased with the results. Here is a picture:

It wasn't the highest quality in the world, but for the price, and the custom fit, it was worth it. 5 star Star Wars costumes.

You know, I am inclined to think that Ultra Sabers is a popular website. I mean, all you have to do is google search custom made lightsabers and I'm sure you'd find it. However it never ceases to amaze me how many Star Wars fans are shocked and surprised when I show them either the Ultra Sabers website, or some of the sabers I've purchased from them. Regardless, I want to include Ultra Sabers in my list. If you want an incredible, high-quality, battle-ready light saber, this is a great place to start looking. That being said, a quick web search will yield several other Light Saber manufacturers like Genesis. I've never used anyone other than UltraSabers, but I'm sure they are of comparable quality. 

One final note about UltraSabers... If it is something you're interested in I would highly recommend signing up for their newsletter. They frequently have sales and discounts that they release via e-mail and these make their sabers really quite affordable. 5 star light sabers.

And there you have it. These aren't necessarily the best Star Wars websites out there and you may recognize some, or even all, of the sites that I've listed, but they really are top notch Star Wars websites that I think would be great additions to your already bursting Star Wars bookmarks bar. Enjoy.