Saturday, July 19, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
oh lord, it's been a long time
yes indeed. i really should update more. i have been busy with craft and non craft related things, but you know how it is. when you are busy, you don't have time to blog, and when you're not busy, you don't have anything to write about. alas, such is life. So I will tell you about some of the things i've been doing over the last few weeks, but first, some yard flowers (aka weeds). i heart them.
So first, and one of the most exciting bits, is that my parents bought a home in chester county! they are still about 45 minutes away from us, but it's a better house in a better neighborhood with more land. so hooray for them! they have until August to sell their current home, so if anyone knows anyone looking for a home in Reading, PA, let me know! ;)
Also, while driving around before work a couple weeks ago, I stumbled upon an antique store. So I went in and meandered along for a while until I found *it!* This piggy bank is the greatest thing I have every laid eyes on. So i quickly grabbed him and up and took him home. He is just so fantastic. And I've never ever had an actual piggy bank before, so it's very exciting.
Stay tuned for an actual craft update, including harmony, thumbtacks, and grannies. :)
So first, and one of the most exciting bits, is that my parents bought a home in chester county! they are still about 45 minutes away from us, but it's a better house in a better neighborhood with more land. so hooray for them! they have until August to sell their current home, so if anyone knows anyone looking for a home in Reading, PA, let me know! ;)
Also, while driving around before work a couple weeks ago, I stumbled upon an antique store. So I went in and meandered along for a while until I found *it!* This piggy bank is the greatest thing I have every laid eyes on. So i quickly grabbed him and up and took him home. He is just so fantastic. And I've never ever had an actual piggy bank before, so it's very exciting.
Stay tuned for an actual craft update, including harmony, thumbtacks, and grannies. :)
Monday, May 5, 2008
I'm a donor!
well, almost. Today I registered to become a Bone Marrow Donor. Right now, The National Bone Marrow Donor Program is holding it's annual Thanks Mom and Mother's Day Campaign. Between May 5-May 19, if you register to become a donor, they will wave the fee for the swab kit (for the first 10,000 online registerations). All you have to do is answer some questions online, and wait for the kit to come in the mail. Then, you quickly swab your cheek and send it back. They'll contact you if you are a match. I'm super happy to be doing this because it means that I might be the match that someone out there is hoping and praying for.
If you'd like to register too (you should), now is the time to do it! It's quick, easy, and for a limited time free, so there's really no other excuse.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Art Star!
Hola! I just found out today that the 5th annual Art Star Craft Bazaar is going to be held May 31 and June 1. So if you are in the Philadelphia area, go down and check it out, it's fantastic! :)
Saturday, May 3, 2008
100 things
Well hi! A fellow blogger posted a list of '100 things about me' on her blog, so i think since i am waiting for the husband to get home from his run, i'll make a list of my own. And maybe we'll all learn a few things about me (including me).
1. my favorite fruit is pineapple
2. i have 1 sister and 3 step sisters
3. my parents divorced when i was 5, and i worried a lot about what would happen to my cat.
4. i don't ever want to have kids
5. but i love my nieces and nephews
6. i've played clarinet and piano since i was 12
7. i was in marching band in high school
8. fall is my favorite time of year
9. my husband and i got married in the fall
10. the wedding was also outside. it was cold.
11. i love to grill
12. i have two cats named duckduck and goose
13. they hate each other
14. i love photogpraphy
15. i go through crafty stages
16. i really want to learn how to throw pottery
17. i love the band genesis
18. and pearl jam
19. music and art make me happiest
20. when i was 4, i had my tonsels and adnoids taken out.
21. one of my earliest memories is waking up to the smell of pancake cooking, and eating breakfast outside w/my parents on our deck.
22. i have no patience for stupid people
23. i got my ears pierced when i was 8, and thought i was very grown up because of it
24. i went to italy when i was 17
25. i like to ride my bike and do tae-bo
26. tae-bo kicks my ass every day
27. i had 2 dogs growing up, a dalmation and a german sheppard/daschund
28. i grew up in the country and i miss living there
29. but i like philly too
30. when i was 14, there was a schooting at our graduation dance. a teacher died, and two kids were wounded.
31. the shooter was a classmate
32. my first ever boyfriend is gay now
33. i went to college at clarion university for 1 year and hated it.
34. so i left and went to montco
35. i'd love to go back to school, but i'm still taking donations for tuition
36. my husband makes me happier than anyone else in the world
37. when i'm with him, i feel complete.
38. my other favorite person is my mom
39. my favorite color is green
40. i'm a big fan of sarcasm
41. i once tried to make chocolate covered pretzels for my husband, and they were a disaster.
42. i'm obsessive about fire safety - i check our smoke detectors once a month
43. and we have 3 fire extinguishers and an escape ladder in the house.
44. my favorite flower is the tiger lily
45. i hate snow
46. my middle name is Danielle, after my dad, Daniel.
47. i got the worst heartburn of my life once after drinking mike hard lemonade
48. i used to hide things under my window sill in my room when i was growing up
49. i've always wanted a secret passage in my house
50. it bugs me when people don't use proper grammar in emails
51. i obcess over certain songs, and play them over and over in a row.
52. i miss living near a lake, and i especially miss Lake Erie.
53. i saw the movie Jaws when I was about 3, and was traumatized for several years
54. i got my first speeding ticket ever a few days ago
55. i believe that heaven is different for every person
56. my husband and i went to San Francisco for our honeymoon, and that was the first and only time i have ever further west than Ohio.
57. i think the movie ET is really boring
58. i've only had 1 cativy in my hole life and i cried when i had it filled. that was a few months ago.
59. i'm super terrified of going to the dentist, and have been for as long as i can remember.
60. i think i look better with my glasses on than without.
61. i have 2 tatoos, and i really want another one
62. i like pearls much better than diamonds
63. and i'd rather have my husband buy me something useful than a piece of jewelry
64. but i really love my wedding set
65. when i was a kid, i'd spend hours playing outside by myself, which included hitting a tree with a stick, and piling up acorns for no reason
66. i really really really want a puppy
67. i like vanilla better than chocolate
68. i avoid using words in emails that i can't spell
69. i don't get enough calcium, but i really hate most things that have calcium
70. i used to ride my bike everywhere when i was a kid, and it was so freeing
71. i was once dumped by a boy for not being christian enough
72. my first job was a cashier at a small grocery store
73. i've also worked at kmart and target
74. i now work at a substance abuse rehab
75. when i grow up, i want to start my own business
76. i love to travel, and i'll go pretty much anywhere
77. especially other countries.
78. i love to fly, but i've never been on a train
79. i have a birthmark the size of a nickel on my inner thigh
80. i love horses, but i'm also a little afraid of them
81. and big dogs
82. i used to play dress up with my sister in my mom's old bride's maid dresses
83. Gilmore Girls was one of my favorite shows, and i'm sad that it's cancelled
84. every time i see a tomato plant, i think of my husband
85. i cry every time i get lost driving
86. i also cry when i'm stressed
87. when i was a kid, my friends and i would sneack into the local hotel pool every day during the summer to go swimming
88. i miss seeing a lot of stars in the sky
89. fourth of july and halloween are my favorite holidays
90. i love going to movies and plays
91. i got drunk for the first time on peppermint schnapps
92. i'm still afraid of being outside in the dark by myself
93. my favorite day is the first day i can open my windows in the car
94. i've never been fishing
95. i fake enthusiasm a lot
96. i believe in karma
97. i hate grocery shopping
98. i'm afraid of almost all bugs
99. the color red makes me sick
100. i'm happier right now than i've ever been in my entire life
that was fun! and harder than i thought. you should all do it too.
1. my favorite fruit is pineapple
2. i have 1 sister and 3 step sisters
3. my parents divorced when i was 5, and i worried a lot about what would happen to my cat.
4. i don't ever want to have kids
5. but i love my nieces and nephews
6. i've played clarinet and piano since i was 12
7. i was in marching band in high school
8. fall is my favorite time of year
9. my husband and i got married in the fall
10. the wedding was also outside. it was cold.
11. i love to grill
12. i have two cats named duckduck and goose
13. they hate each other
14. i love photogpraphy
15. i go through crafty stages
16. i really want to learn how to throw pottery
17. i love the band genesis
18. and pearl jam
19. music and art make me happiest
20. when i was 4, i had my tonsels and adnoids taken out.
21. one of my earliest memories is waking up to the smell of pancake cooking, and eating breakfast outside w/my parents on our deck.
22. i have no patience for stupid people
23. i got my ears pierced when i was 8, and thought i was very grown up because of it
24. i went to italy when i was 17
25. i like to ride my bike and do tae-bo
26. tae-bo kicks my ass every day
27. i had 2 dogs growing up, a dalmation and a german sheppard/daschund
28. i grew up in the country and i miss living there
29. but i like philly too
30. when i was 14, there was a schooting at our graduation dance. a teacher died, and two kids were wounded.
31. the shooter was a classmate
32. my first ever boyfriend is gay now
33. i went to college at clarion university for 1 year and hated it.
34. so i left and went to montco
35. i'd love to go back to school, but i'm still taking donations for tuition
36. my husband makes me happier than anyone else in the world
37. when i'm with him, i feel complete.
38. my other favorite person is my mom
39. my favorite color is green
40. i'm a big fan of sarcasm
41. i once tried to make chocolate covered pretzels for my husband, and they were a disaster.
42. i'm obsessive about fire safety - i check our smoke detectors once a month
43. and we have 3 fire extinguishers and an escape ladder in the house.
44. my favorite flower is the tiger lily
45. i hate snow
46. my middle name is Danielle, after my dad, Daniel.
47. i got the worst heartburn of my life once after drinking mike hard lemonade
48. i used to hide things under my window sill in my room when i was growing up
49. i've always wanted a secret passage in my house
50. it bugs me when people don't use proper grammar in emails
51. i obcess over certain songs, and play them over and over in a row.
52. i miss living near a lake, and i especially miss Lake Erie.
53. i saw the movie Jaws when I was about 3, and was traumatized for several years
54. i got my first speeding ticket ever a few days ago
55. i believe that heaven is different for every person
56. my husband and i went to San Francisco for our honeymoon, and that was the first and only time i have ever further west than Ohio.
57. i think the movie ET is really boring
58. i've only had 1 cativy in my hole life and i cried when i had it filled. that was a few months ago.
59. i'm super terrified of going to the dentist, and have been for as long as i can remember.
60. i think i look better with my glasses on than without.
61. i have 2 tatoos, and i really want another one
62. i like pearls much better than diamonds
63. and i'd rather have my husband buy me something useful than a piece of jewelry
64. but i really love my wedding set
65. when i was a kid, i'd spend hours playing outside by myself, which included hitting a tree with a stick, and piling up acorns for no reason
66. i really really really want a puppy
67. i like vanilla better than chocolate
68. i avoid using words in emails that i can't spell
69. i don't get enough calcium, but i really hate most things that have calcium
70. i used to ride my bike everywhere when i was a kid, and it was so freeing
71. i was once dumped by a boy for not being christian enough
72. my first job was a cashier at a small grocery store
73. i've also worked at kmart and target
74. i now work at a substance abuse rehab
75. when i grow up, i want to start my own business
76. i love to travel, and i'll go pretty much anywhere
77. especially other countries.
78. i love to fly, but i've never been on a train
79. i have a birthmark the size of a nickel on my inner thigh
80. i love horses, but i'm also a little afraid of them
81. and big dogs
82. i used to play dress up with my sister in my mom's old bride's maid dresses
83. Gilmore Girls was one of my favorite shows, and i'm sad that it's cancelled
84. every time i see a tomato plant, i think of my husband
85. i cry every time i get lost driving
86. i also cry when i'm stressed
87. when i was a kid, my friends and i would sneack into the local hotel pool every day during the summer to go swimming
88. i miss seeing a lot of stars in the sky
89. fourth of july and halloween are my favorite holidays
90. i love going to movies and plays
91. i got drunk for the first time on peppermint schnapps
92. i'm still afraid of being outside in the dark by myself
93. my favorite day is the first day i can open my windows in the car
94. i've never been fishing
95. i fake enthusiasm a lot
96. i believe in karma
97. i hate grocery shopping
98. i'm afraid of almost all bugs
99. the color red makes me sick
100. i'm happier right now than i've ever been in my entire life
that was fun! and harder than i thought. you should all do it too.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
drivin
Good day, citizens! As Pierre Robert would say! Today I decided to get out of the house for a nice drive, even though today was the coldest day in a while. So I went out in the early evening with my camera and just drove around. I stumbled upon a horse farm, with four horses roaming around. It's so nice for me to see horses, especially because around here you don't see a lot of farms. That's one of the big things that I miss about living in Edinboro - the abundance of farms and country life. Horses, cows, alpacas... it's nice to feel close with nature.
Anyway, so I pulled over and walked over to the fence and started snapping away. After a few minutes this huge brown horse came trotting over to me and let me pet him on the nose! (and I was only a little bit afraid, but mostly happy because he loved me.) I just felt bad because I had no apples or carrots to give him. If/when I go back, I'll be more prepared. And hopefully it will be a nicer day with a blue sky. :) So I visited with him for a while and got some nice shots. Jumped back in my car and a few feet later I saw some deer in a field, so I rolled down the window to get a shot or two of them. Hooray for nature!
Also, in the music world, I have recently discovered the vocal talents of Regina Spektor. If you have never heard of her, I highly suggest a listen. There is nothing better than great vocals and great piano playing. Big <3.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Spring Blooms
Today was a nice day outside, so I ventured out this morning to take a walk and enjoy the early springtime. I was the only person in the park, and it was nice to sit on the swings and breathe the fresh air. I actually found some of the trees flowering already, and of course the daffodils and crocus flowers. So even though the sky was still gray and wintery, the blooms give me hope for warmer days! And I did have the chance to snap a few photos. :) Keep it up, spring!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Just an Update
Ok, so I haven't posted anything in forever. But honestly, I'm not really doing much to feed my creativity. I've been working a lot, and since spring in PA is really just an extension of winter so it's usually too cold to go outside, there aren't a lot of oportunities for the creative juices to start flowing. But I am alive. And I did go to a jewelry show on Sunday. Mostly, I just got some great ideas to make my own versions of the highly overpriced stuff they were selling. I bought one pendant, which I love, and will turn into a fantastic summer necklace, and I actually won a pair of earrings. And even though they are pretty ugly, I'm still happy because I never ever win anything. Now if I could just transfer that luck to something like winning the lottery, i'd be set. :)
And if you're a yarn whore like me, you should check out Spin Cycle Yarns. All of their yarn is spun using diesel-powered bicycles. It rulz.
And if you're a yarn whore like me, you should check out Spin Cycle Yarns. All of their yarn is spun using diesel-powered bicycles. It rulz.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Horny Melon!
Today's the day you've all been waiting for! Here are the pics of the Kiwano, or horned melon. (Or jelly melon if you are my husband.) This is the most fantastic fruit I have seen in a while! The brightness of the green seed pods on the inside was a surprise. And it tastes like a not exactly ripe yet banana. The internet tells me that if you eat it when it's not ripe, it tastes sort of like a cucumber/kiwi. I love it!
Also, I finally have the coffee cake recipe ready for you all! And seriously, you have to make it. Now I got the base of this recipe for www.allrecipes.com, but i made some of my own changes. And the great thing about coffee cake is that you can basically add whatever you want, and it'll taste great.
Best. Coffee Cake. Ever.
For the Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
3/4 cup milk, or as needed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the streusel topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter
pecans or other nuts, to taste.
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. Make the streusel topping: In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon (for topping). Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Crack an egg into a measuring cup and then fill add milk to make 1 cup. Stir in vanilla. Pour into crumb mixture and mix just until moistened. Spread into prepared pan. Sprinkle top with half of the streusel.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the remaining streusel. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm and Enjoy!! :)
Also, I finally have the coffee cake recipe ready for you all! And seriously, you have to make it. Now I got the base of this recipe for www.allrecipes.com, but i made some of my own changes. And the great thing about coffee cake is that you can basically add whatever you want, and it'll taste great.
Best. Coffee Cake. Ever.
For the Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
3/4 cup milk, or as needed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the streusel topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter
pecans or other nuts, to taste.
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. Make the streusel topping: In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon (for topping). Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Crack an egg into a measuring cup and then fill add milk to make 1 cup. Stir in vanilla. Pour into crumb mixture and mix just until moistened. Spread into prepared pan. Sprinkle top with half of the streusel.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the remaining streusel. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm and Enjoy!! :)
Monday, March 3, 2008
D.I.A.N.A
Just a quick update, kids, on what i've been doing this weekend! I spent most of the time playing nintendo (haha) but when not doing that, I've been working on some things for my father-in-law's website. He owns and operates a driving school called Driving in a New America, Inc (DIANA). It's named afer his daughter, Diana, who passed away in a car accident when she was a teenager. Now, he is dedicating his life to helping other teens learn safe driving techniques. He does behind the wheel and classroom training around the Butler Count, PA area. You all should definitely check out his website, www.dianaschool.com.
So far, I've combined a couple photos together to make a banner for the top of the home page. The 'sky' in this photo was taken by Kevin (my FIL), on the day that Diana died. Can you spot the angel in the clouds? The rest of it is my creation, and I have to say that I'm pretty proud of it. Even though I thought of this project over a year ago, and am just now getting around to actually putting it into action. :)
And to go with the banner, I'll have to change some of the colors and layout of the website, which I've also been working on. I really hope Kevin likes one of the options I give him!
And with that, it's monday. So I guess I should get into the shower and get myself to work at some point. ooh, also! Tim and I were grocery shopping on saturday night (oh yeah, we're that exciting), and he spotted the "Kiwano", which is an orangish-yellow horned mellon. I had to have it! So we bought one and pictures to come of it, because it's fantastic!! yay!
So far, I've combined a couple photos together to make a banner for the top of the home page. The 'sky' in this photo was taken by Kevin (my FIL), on the day that Diana died. Can you spot the angel in the clouds? The rest of it is my creation, and I have to say that I'm pretty proud of it. Even though I thought of this project over a year ago, and am just now getting around to actually putting it into action. :)
And to go with the banner, I'll have to change some of the colors and layout of the website, which I've also been working on. I really hope Kevin likes one of the options I give him!
And with that, it's monday. So I guess I should get into the shower and get myself to work at some point. ooh, also! Tim and I were grocery shopping on saturday night (oh yeah, we're that exciting), and he spotted the "Kiwano", which is an orangish-yellow horned mellon. I had to have it! So we bought one and pictures to come of it, because it's fantastic!! yay!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Spot the Faker
I just stole this link from another blogger, but click the link to take the test to see if you can tell the difference between fake and real smiles. Apparently, most people are surprisingly bad at it. I, however, scored a 17 out of 20. Cuz I Rulz. See how well you can do!!
Spot the Faker!
Spot the Faker!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Tim!
Yesterday was my husband's birthday! I made him a huge breakfast yesterday morning of french toast, bacon, sausage, and *coffee cake!* The coffee cake is just fantastic, so I will post the recipe here soon. :) Then we went out to dinner at Longhorn and ate great steaks, came home, and he opened gifts and we had cake. Yum! This years birthday cake was German Chocolate, and was excellent (but not from scratch.) And ice cream that I forget the name of now. :)
So, it was a very nice happy day, which was what we needed.
And, in crafting news, I have decided to go balls out and make a quilt! I've never attempted anything like this before with the sewing machine, so I'm really hoping everything turns out. But the pattern I'm using is a simple mock log cabin, so the geometry isn't that hard. And I already have about 25 squares done! I bought some fantastic spring/gardeny fabric, and I think it's just wonderful together. I hope that by the time spring/summer rolls around, I'll actually have it done! I don't know that I'm getting any better with the sewing machine, but I tell ya, I've got that seam ripper thing down. haha! I'll post updates about it often, so wish me luck!!
Yesterday was my husband's birthday! I made him a huge breakfast yesterday morning of french toast, bacon, sausage, and *coffee cake!* The coffee cake is just fantastic, so I will post the recipe here soon. :) Then we went out to dinner at Longhorn and ate great steaks, came home, and he opened gifts and we had cake. Yum! This years birthday cake was German Chocolate, and was excellent (but not from scratch.) And ice cream that I forget the name of now. :)
So, it was a very nice happy day, which was what we needed.
And, in crafting news, I have decided to go balls out and make a quilt! I've never attempted anything like this before with the sewing machine, so I'm really hoping everything turns out. But the pattern I'm using is a simple mock log cabin, so the geometry isn't that hard. And I already have about 25 squares done! I bought some fantastic spring/gardeny fabric, and I think it's just wonderful together. I hope that by the time spring/summer rolls around, I'll actually have it done! I don't know that I'm getting any better with the sewing machine, but I tell ya, I've got that seam ripper thing down. haha! I'll post updates about it often, so wish me luck!!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
We miss you, E-dawg
Well, it's been a sad week for us. Our friend Eric passed away on monday morning; he was only 29. Tim and I drove back to pittsburgh for the services. He is Tim's best friend since they were little kids, and he is such an awesome person. I liked him instantly because of his quick and subtle humor and friendly nature. He's the type of person who everyone just likes, and I honesly can't imagine anyone disliking him.
Of course he was the best man at our wedding. During his speech at the reception, his glass was shaking so badly because he hates public speaking. (that's what this picture is of. Eric's the one on the right, i case you couldn't figure it out.) And when Tim threw the garter and it landed about 2 feet away from him, Eric was the one to step up and grab it while everyone else laughed or, lets face it, juist walked away. I still laugh out loud about it today, over two years later.
We shouldn't have to say goodbye to our friends like this, especially when we are all still so young. Rest in peace, Eric. We miss you.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Inspired!
Hola!
This weekend I have been inspired by a few fellow crafters! Friday, I finally got around to making these most adorable fabric covered pushpins! The idea comes from Jessica Jones of How About Orange. And I was going to bring these to work, but since work is now sans bullitin board, i'll have to save them for later. But that won't stop me from making tons of them! :) For the link on how to make them yourselves, click here!
And tonight, I read up on Craftzine and Knitty, Vintage, and Rosey about how to make a cute little bedside pocket, for holding books, water bottles, etc. Their's are made with vintage hankies, but since I don't have any, I just used some pretty fabric (another clearance $1 find!). And besides needing to be ironed, I think it's cuties. And I made it big enough to hold my primary and secondary books, so they won't clutter up my nightstand! (that maybe have ben the nerdiest sentence i've ever typed.)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Soggy
hello again from rainy, cold, miserable Eagleville. Just a quick update to tell you about my day.
Got to work, found out the that *entire* building is flooded. Apparently, the roof has major leaks and the drain pipes burst. awesome! So, I go to be cube to find three giant garbage cans on the desks to catch the water and ceiling tiles that continue to fall. All of the carpet is completely soaked, and some offices have (literally) waterfalls coming down from the ceiling. So, I try to salvage as much of my stuff as I can. (Unfotunately, I had several origami things pinned up from my origami-a-day calendar last year, and they are all ruined. i'm crushed.) The computer is probably lost forever, along with several other people's computers and my friends laptop. Thankfully for us, it's the company that will be paying for that.
Now, keep in mind, that we are on the first floor of a two story building. That means that the water damage on the second floor is much worse. And the leaking roof water had to travel its way past one whole floor to even get to us. Ok. So I go upstairs to survey the damage. It's baaaad. Carpets are buckled, chairs are soaked, ceilings are on the floor.
So most of the building has been evactuated, and we're currently setting up shop in a tiny building elsewhere. It's smelly, and cramped, and cold, and spider-y. All in all, a great place to care for patients! (I work at a substance about rehab.) And that'll be home away from home for the next month, at least. I'm so happy.
Also, I came home today to find out that there is water in our basement *again!* Even after we sealed everything last year. Luckily it's not nearly as bad as it was last year, but after 8 hours of walking through the rain carying boxes, and trying to salvage as much of my work stuff as possible, water in the basement was the last thing I needed when I came home tonight. ::sigh:: Here's to hoping things dry out soon!
Got to work, found out the that *entire* building is flooded. Apparently, the roof has major leaks and the drain pipes burst. awesome! So, I go to be cube to find three giant garbage cans on the desks to catch the water and ceiling tiles that continue to fall. All of the carpet is completely soaked, and some offices have (literally) waterfalls coming down from the ceiling. So, I try to salvage as much of my stuff as I can. (Unfotunately, I had several origami things pinned up from my origami-a-day calendar last year, and they are all ruined. i'm crushed.) The computer is probably lost forever, along with several other people's computers and my friends laptop. Thankfully for us, it's the company that will be paying for that.
Now, keep in mind, that we are on the first floor of a two story building. That means that the water damage on the second floor is much worse. And the leaking roof water had to travel its way past one whole floor to even get to us. Ok. So I go upstairs to survey the damage. It's baaaad. Carpets are buckled, chairs are soaked, ceilings are on the floor.
So most of the building has been evactuated, and we're currently setting up shop in a tiny building elsewhere. It's smelly, and cramped, and cold, and spider-y. All in all, a great place to care for patients! (I work at a substance about rehab.) And that'll be home away from home for the next month, at least. I'm so happy.
Also, I came home today to find out that there is water in our basement *again!* Even after we sealed everything last year. Luckily it's not nearly as bad as it was last year, but after 8 hours of walking through the rain carying boxes, and trying to salvage as much of my work stuff as possible, water in the basement was the last thing I needed when I came home tonight. ::sigh:: Here's to hoping things dry out soon!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Cookies!
I know, two posts in one day!
To round out a great weekend, I decided to bake some milk choclate/white chocolate swirl cookies! And they are fantastic! I haven't made cookies in a while, so these are a nice treat, especially since the weather is cold, windy, and snowy.
You can't really get much better than these milk chocolate/white chocolate swirl chips by Nestle!
Ready for the oven!
And the finished product. Be jealous. :)
I also made baked applesauce for dinner tonight with steak and fries. There is nothing better than homeade, fresh from the oven applesauce. I And the recipe is super easy! Excellent! (I got the recipe from www.allrecipes.com, but here it is for you all.
Baked Applesauce
-4 tart apples, cored, sliced, and peeled.
-1/4 cup granulated sugar
-1 tsp cinnamon (or to taste)
1/2 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9x13 glass baking dish. Spread the apple slices in the dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture. Cover, and bake for 40-45 minutes or until apples are soft. Remove from oven, uncover, and smash apples with a fork. Serve warm.
To round out a great weekend, I decided to bake some milk choclate/white chocolate swirl cookies! And they are fantastic! I haven't made cookies in a while, so these are a nice treat, especially since the weather is cold, windy, and snowy.
You can't really get much better than these milk chocolate/white chocolate swirl chips by Nestle!
Ready for the oven!
And the finished product. Be jealous. :)
I also made baked applesauce for dinner tonight with steak and fries. There is nothing better than homeade, fresh from the oven applesauce. I And the recipe is super easy! Excellent! (I got the recipe from www.allrecipes.com, but here it is for you all.
Baked Applesauce
-4 tart apples, cored, sliced, and peeled.
-1/4 cup granulated sugar
-1 tsp cinnamon (or to taste)
1/2 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9x13 glass baking dish. Spread the apple slices in the dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture. Cover, and bake for 40-45 minutes or until apples are soft. Remove from oven, uncover, and smash apples with a fork. Serve warm.
Weekend Sanctuary!
I have been looking forward to the weekend since Monday, and I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a lot of sleeping in, laying around, and spending some much needed quality time with the hubby. In between tho, I am able to get some sewing done! That's right, sewing. I recently bought a sewing machine and busted it out yesterday for the first time. My first attempt at making anything was this sad little brown rectangular pillow. I made it just to see if I could actually operate the machine, and since it was looking a little like a rectangular turd, i embroidered a little pink heart on it. It's lumpy, boring, and slightly mishapen, but for my first time sewing since I was 12, I think it turned out better than expected.
But today, I moved on to bigger and better things with the sewing machine. I made a chair cushion cover. I have this old wooden swivel desk chair that I inherited from my friend Kristen, and it also came with a ragged old blue cushion. So, I found this awesome fabric on clearance ($1/yard!!), and used part of it to cover up the yucky cushion. It looks great with the vintage style of the chair. Plus, it is easily removeable because I put a velcro flap on it, so I can change it later on if I decide to make others. This sewing project was much more successful, as long as you don't look at some of the seams too closely. Hooray!
And is crochet news, I broke down and started to make the round ripple baby blanket for my sister in law. It'll be white and green, since I still dont know the sex of the baby, but it's nice cuz I already had the yarn lying around anyway. Right now I'm not sure how this is going to turn out, but I'll post finished photos if it actually gets that far!! Happy weekend!
But today, I moved on to bigger and better things with the sewing machine. I made a chair cushion cover. I have this old wooden swivel desk chair that I inherited from my friend Kristen, and it also came with a ragged old blue cushion. So, I found this awesome fabric on clearance ($1/yard!!), and used part of it to cover up the yucky cushion. It looks great with the vintage style of the chair. Plus, it is easily removeable because I put a velcro flap on it, so I can change it later on if I decide to make others. This sewing project was much more successful, as long as you don't look at some of the seams too closely. Hooray!
And is crochet news, I broke down and started to make the round ripple baby blanket for my sister in law. It'll be white and green, since I still dont know the sex of the baby, but it's nice cuz I already had the yarn lying around anyway. Right now I'm not sure how this is going to turn out, but I'll post finished photos if it actually gets that far!! Happy weekend!
Friday, February 1, 2008
My husband is the best!
You know it's true!
So this week has been sooo stressful for me at work, and I've been feeling pretty down lately. Yesterday, to my surprise, my hubby had flowers waiting for me when I got home! He doesn't buy me flowers often, so it's really special when he does. And lilies are my favorite. :)
Also, I've decided on my next crochet project. It will be a round ripple baby blanket for my sister-in-law's new baby, due in August. I just have to wait to find out if it's a girl or a boy before I can start, because I don't want to make a gender neutral one. But I'm very excited for it!
And so starts a hopefully relaxing weekend, because I really need it. :)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
MOO
One of the things that I am most passionate about in life is photography. I love everything about it and over the last year and a half i've had a great time getting to know my Nikon D50. It's my first digital SLR and I absolutely adore it. And I'm always looking for new ways to display photos that I think turned out well, so when I found out about little MOO cards from a friend (), I jumped at the chance to place an order. They are like these little rectangular photo/business cards, where one side is a photo and on the other side, you can basically write anything you want. I've been putting my contact info on the backs of mine, with my photography website (www.pbase.com/lenzphotography), and they are just a really fun way of getting your name out there without the 'corporateness' of regular business cards. But since I always have lots (you can get a box of 100 different cards for $20), I decided to use some of the extras as a frame around my magnetic wall. I painted this part of the chimney wall in my office at home with magnetic paint back in the summer, but it looked unfinished. I couldn't figure out what to use as a border until I found these little magnetic nametag holders. Turns out, they are just about the same size as the moo cards, just a little bit longer. So I slid the cards in, cut off the acess plastic, and arranged them in random order around the magnet board. I think it really completes the wall. Oh, and I'd recommend the magnet paint to anyone, it's great! and, you can buy chalkboard paint to put over it, and voila! Instant happiness.
Also photography related, last night I crocheted a cover for my camera strap, because the black and yellow Nikon one is too boring. It was easy and worked up really quickly, so I was able to finish it in a few hours. It just slides on and off, so I bet I'll be making more! Plus, it uses such little yarn that it's a nice way to use up random leftovers too. :)
Monday, January 21, 2008
Miwa the ninja kiwi
Happy Monday! Today I managed to finish the purse lining from yesterday. I'm actually really proud of this. It's the first purse I've made that I'm not at all afraid to take out in public. :-D Today I discovered www.craftzine.com, which is absolutely fantastic. It holds pretty much anything crafty that you could possibly dream up and more. Check it out!
Also, I felt like posting some older things that also give me great happiness. The first are these great curtain holders that I made over the summer with craft wide and glass beads. I used size 17 needles and it's actually not as hard as you would think to knit with wire. As long as you pick a very pliable wire, and have some patience with it, it's not hard at all. Also, it's a great way to use extra random beads that you can't use anywhere else.
Besides those, I have also recently crocheted a kiwi bird. The kiwi is one of the main reasons why I started to crochet, so I'm happy that he turned out nicely. He's crocheted with a G Hook using Red Heart Simply Soft yarn. His belly turned out a little higher than the pattern said, but I like him anyway. And I didn't plan this, but I think he looks like a ninja kiwi, so I've named him Miwa. Don't eff with him man, he'll kick your ass.
Also, I felt like posting some older things that also give me great happiness. The first are these great curtain holders that I made over the summer with craft wide and glass beads. I used size 17 needles and it's actually not as hard as you would think to knit with wire. As long as you pick a very pliable wire, and have some patience with it, it's not hard at all. Also, it's a great way to use extra random beads that you can't use anywhere else.
Besides those, I have also recently crocheted a kiwi bird. The kiwi is one of the main reasons why I started to crochet, so I'm happy that he turned out nicely. He's crocheted with a G Hook using Red Heart Simply Soft yarn. His belly turned out a little higher than the pattern said, but I like him anyway. And I didn't plan this, but I think he looks like a ninja kiwi, so I've named him Miwa. Don't eff with him man, he'll kick your ass.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
FIrst entry
Hi all. So happy first entry to me. I hope that my ADD doesn't kick in too soon and I can actually keep this for a while. And this was a good weekend for being crafty since the high today here in Philly is about 20 degrees, with a wind chill even colder, so there's no way I would venture outside.
Anyway, I just had to show off my first crocheted purse. I made the entire thing this weekend, except sewing in the liner, due to the fact the the pattern is super easy. It makes me think of spring, and that's always nice in January. I used the pattern "In Bloom" from Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet, The Happy Hooker. Except I didn't have a flower loom and certainly wasn't going to wasted the money/time to go try to buy one, so I just improvised and used my fingers as a loom. I think it turned out great. Also, for the lining, I used an old blouse that I don't wear anymore. Recycling, woo!
Anyway, I just had to show off my first crocheted purse. I made the entire thing this weekend, except sewing in the liner, due to the fact the the pattern is super easy. It makes me think of spring, and that's always nice in January. I used the pattern "In Bloom" from Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet, The Happy Hooker. Except I didn't have a flower loom and certainly wasn't going to wasted the money/time to go try to buy one, so I just improvised and used my fingers as a loom. I think it turned out great. Also, for the lining, I used an old blouse that I don't wear anymore. Recycling, woo!
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