have fun this weekend, y'all!
photo by joe martinez
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
'Stache Bash today!
Februhairy ends TODAY with the 'Stache Bash. Let's hope we met our fundraising goal for the Women's Resource Center! (or at least got pretty close)
I wish I could give the Moustache King this fab mousatche print...
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
lettering & logo love...
The only thing i think i like better than paper and making mix cds as far as "being creative" goes is messing around and playing with fonts. ran across Klim's website and i am JEALOUS. i mean, how fun would it be to design logos and letters for a living?
i know, right?
wit...er... white.
i love irony, and stephen colbert, and outdoor performance clothes.
not to mention 80s night, microbreweries, standing still at concerts, difficult breakups, recycling, public radio, wes anderson movies, and going outside.
now, the folks from stuff white people like have done it again... of COURSE I have moleskin notebooks! SHOOT!
after reading this one i wondered, "just how white AM i?"
let me state for the record that I'm 83 out of 122 posts white. i invite you to gage your own white-ness by counting here how many things YOU like. post them in a comment so i know at what end of the spectrum i fall. ( because right now i feel casper-the-friendly-ghost-nearly-transparent-white...)
not to mention 80s night, microbreweries, standing still at concerts, difficult breakups, recycling, public radio, wes anderson movies, and going outside.
now, the folks from stuff white people like have done it again... of COURSE I have moleskin notebooks! SHOOT!
after reading this one i wondered, "just how white AM i?"
let me state for the record that I'm 83 out of 122 posts white. i invite you to gage your own white-ness by counting here how many things YOU like. post them in a comment so i know at what end of the spectrum i fall. ( because right now i feel casper-the-friendly-ghost-nearly-transparent-white...)
Since all white people consider themselves to be “creative,” they are constantly in need of products and accessories that will allow them to capture their thoughts. One of the more popular products in recent years has been the Moleskine notebook.
This particular type of notebook is very expensive and was quite popular with writers and artists in the olden days. Needless to say, these are two properties that are highly coveted in the white community. In fact, it’s a good rule of thumb to know that white people like anything that old writers and artists liked: typewriters, journals, suicide, heroin, and trains are just a few examples.
Much like virtually everything else that white people like, these notebooks are considerably more expensive yet provide no additional functionality over regular notebooks that cost a dollar. Thankfully, since white people only keep their most original and creative ideas in the Moleskine, many of them will only be required to purchase one per lifetime.
But the the growing popularity of these little journals, is not without its own set of problems. One of the strangest side effects has been the puzzling situation whereby a white person will sit in an independent coffee shop with a Moleskine notebook resting on top of a Apple laptop. You might wonder why they need so many devices to write down thoughts? Well, if a white person has a great idea, they write it by hand, if they have a good idea, it goes into the computer.
Not only does this help them keep their thoughts organized, but it serves as a signal to the other white people in the shop that the owner of both instruments is truly creative. It screams: “I’m not using my computer to check email and read celebrity gossip, I’m using it to create art. Please ask me about it.”
So when you see a white person with one of these notebooks, you should always ask them about what sort of projects they are working on their free time. But you should never ask to actually see the notebook lest you ask the question “how are you going to make a novel out of five phone numbers and a grocery list?”
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
the King of Cakes...
it's shrove (or fat tuesday) so i thought today it would be fun to share my fav mardi gras tradition... the king cake! the bad news is that making one is an arduous process and Fat Tuesday is the last day they're traditionally eaten... so hop to it!
my friend's mom (who's a fab lady from new orleans) sent me this king cake recipe after i fawned all over her to do it... mostly because i love them, but also because i have tons of friends who've never tasted this delishy mardi gras delicacy.
they don't get that the baby inside is the "king" jesus (but also has something to do with the three magi) and that finding it is good luck. and they don't know why it's a ring, or what the colors mean. can you imagine?
i haven't used her recipe yet, but i thought i'd whet your appetites with some photos from hankins flickr photostream (he takes BEAUTIFUL food and other kinds of pictures) and then give you the recipe too, so you can make your own.
-----------------------------------------------------------
King Cake from Jambalaya p 206
Makes 2 9x12” cakes. Freezes well.
Cake:
1 stick plus 1 tbsp butter.
2/3 cup 99% fat free skim evaporated milk
½ cup sugar
2 tsp salt
2 packages dry yeast
1/3 cup warm water
4eggs
1tbsp
orange zest
6 c flour
For the cake, in a saucepan, melt 1 stick of butter, add milk and 1/3 cup of sugar and salt. Cool to lukewarm. In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast, 2 tbsp sugar, and water. Let stand until foaming.
About 5 to 10 minutes. Beat eggs into yeast; then milk mixture and zest. Stir in flour, ½ c at a time. Reserving 1 c to flour kneading surface.
Knead dough until smooth, about 5 to 10 min. Place in large mixing bowl greased with 1 Tbsp of butter; turning dough once to grease top. Gover and let rise in a warm place until doubled about 1 ½ to 2 hours.
Filling:
½ c dark brown sugar. Packaged
¾ c granulated sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 stick butter, melted
For filling, mix sugars and cinnamon. Set aside.
Topping
1 egg, beaten
1 c sugar, colored (1/3 c each purple, yellow, green)
2 plastic babies or 2 beans
For topping, tint sugar by mixing food coloring until desired color is reached. A food processor aids in mixing and keeps the sugar from being too moist. When dough has doubled, punch down and divide in half. On a floured surface, roll half into a rectangle 30 x 15. Brush with half of melted butter and cut into 3 lengthwise strips. Sprinkle half of sugar mixture on strips, leaning a 1-in lengthwise strip free for sealing. Fold each strip toward the center, sealing the seam. You will now have 3 30-in stips with sugar mixture enclosed in each. Braid the three strips and make a circle by joining ends. Repeat with the other half of the fough. Place each cake on a on a 10 x15 baking sheet. Cover with damp cloth and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Brush each with egg and sprinkle top with colored sugars, alternating colors. Preheat oven to 350. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately so sugar will not harden; while still warm, place one plastic baby (or a bean) in each from underneath.
my friend's mom (who's a fab lady from new orleans) sent me this king cake recipe after i fawned all over her to do it... mostly because i love them, but also because i have tons of friends who've never tasted this delishy mardi gras delicacy.
they don't get that the baby inside is the "king" jesus (but also has something to do with the three magi) and that finding it is good luck. and they don't know why it's a ring, or what the colors mean. can you imagine?
i haven't used her recipe yet, but i thought i'd whet your appetites with some photos from hankins flickr photostream (he takes BEAUTIFUL food and other kinds of pictures) and then give you the recipe too, so you can make your own.
-----------------------------------------------------------
King Cake from Jambalaya p 206
Makes 2 9x12” cakes. Freezes well.
Cake:
1 stick plus 1 tbsp butter.
2/3 cup 99% fat free skim evaporated milk
½ cup sugar
2 tsp salt
2 packages dry yeast
1/3 cup warm water
4eggs
1tbsp
orange zest
6 c flour
For the cake, in a saucepan, melt 1 stick of butter, add milk and 1/3 cup of sugar and salt. Cool to lukewarm. In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast, 2 tbsp sugar, and water. Let stand until foaming.
About 5 to 10 minutes. Beat eggs into yeast; then milk mixture and zest. Stir in flour, ½ c at a time. Reserving 1 c to flour kneading surface.
Knead dough until smooth, about 5 to 10 min. Place in large mixing bowl greased with 1 Tbsp of butter; turning dough once to grease top. Gover and let rise in a warm place until doubled about 1 ½ to 2 hours.
Filling:
½ c dark brown sugar. Packaged
¾ c granulated sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 stick butter, melted
For filling, mix sugars and cinnamon. Set aside.
Topping
1 egg, beaten
1 c sugar, colored (1/3 c each purple, yellow, green)
2 plastic babies or 2 beans
For topping, tint sugar by mixing food coloring until desired color is reached. A food processor aids in mixing and keeps the sugar from being too moist. When dough has doubled, punch down and divide in half. On a floured surface, roll half into a rectangle 30 x 15. Brush with half of melted butter and cut into 3 lengthwise strips. Sprinkle half of sugar mixture on strips, leaning a 1-in lengthwise strip free for sealing. Fold each strip toward the center, sealing the seam. You will now have 3 30-in stips with sugar mixture enclosed in each. Braid the three strips and make a circle by joining ends. Repeat with the other half of the fough. Place each cake on a on a 10 x15 baking sheet. Cover with damp cloth and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Brush each with egg and sprinkle top with colored sugars, alternating colors. Preheat oven to 350. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately so sugar will not harden; while still warm, place one plastic baby (or a bean) in each from underneath.
Monday, February 23, 2009
I'm giving it up for Lent...
Being completely consumed and overwhelmed by wedding thoughts, that is.
Apparently engagement angst and wedding related loss of personality is going around. this weekend i found out through this post by Practical Wedding blogger Meg and this one by 2000 Dollar Wedding Guru, Sara that i am not alone.
Turns out that for the past few months nearly all of my thoughts turn to wedding details or wedding related issues. nearly half of my convos revolve around this stuff... i mean, when MY half of the convo is spent talking about wedding stuff? really? I have diverse interests.. i'm not boring! I don't have a one-track mind! but these days it seems like it.
and i'm completely disgusted with myself.
i mean, i started blogging about the wedding and marriage plans BECAUSE i didn't want it to dominate my real conversations... if I was spewing it out online, then i wouldn't feel a need to share it or be "the friend who only talks about weddings"
i promise, there are LOTS of other things going on in my life... i'm working on a really exciting thesis proposal, raising money and awareness for DV with Februhairy, reading really thought provoking books, and trying to get a rad job for next year... not to mention that fact that I watch house, the office, and 30 rock like a fiend.
but somehow i always end up talking about wedding stuff (this is not to be confused with marriage stuff). part of this is because people ask about wedding stuff... how the planning is going, am i nervous, etc. why can't they ask about marriage stuff? or other life stuff?
sometimes i don't bite the bait since I know people are just being polite and want to make conversations. This is fine with me and usually i can steer the conversation to something i know they care about more than my silly wedding plans.... you know: march madness or a funny news story, a question about their life
but when my close friends ask i usually totally spill all of my anxiety or excitement on them.
The thing is, you have no idea how good it feels to be able to talk about all this junk with the people who know you the best. BUT this is a REALLY bad and sort of unhealthy way to relate to the people you love the most.
so as my Lenten resolution, I'm working on finding a balance with the need to vent with the need to be me. this probably means that i'll talk about wedding stuff with my mom and through this blog... and then if someone really, REALLY, for real wants to know.
photo found via victoria with the roses
Apparently engagement angst and wedding related loss of personality is going around. this weekend i found out through this post by Practical Wedding blogger Meg and this one by 2000 Dollar Wedding Guru, Sara that i am not alone.
Turns out that for the past few months nearly all of my thoughts turn to wedding details or wedding related issues. nearly half of my convos revolve around this stuff... i mean, when MY half of the convo is spent talking about wedding stuff? really? I have diverse interests.. i'm not boring! I don't have a one-track mind! but these days it seems like it.
and i'm completely disgusted with myself.
i mean, i started blogging about the wedding and marriage plans BECAUSE i didn't want it to dominate my real conversations... if I was spewing it out online, then i wouldn't feel a need to share it or be "the friend who only talks about weddings"
i promise, there are LOTS of other things going on in my life... i'm working on a really exciting thesis proposal, raising money and awareness for DV with Februhairy, reading really thought provoking books, and trying to get a rad job for next year... not to mention that fact that I watch house, the office, and 30 rock like a fiend.
but somehow i always end up talking about wedding stuff (this is not to be confused with marriage stuff). part of this is because people ask about wedding stuff... how the planning is going, am i nervous, etc. why can't they ask about marriage stuff? or other life stuff?
sometimes i don't bite the bait since I know people are just being polite and want to make conversations. This is fine with me and usually i can steer the conversation to something i know they care about more than my silly wedding plans.... you know: march madness or a funny news story, a question about their life
but when my close friends ask i usually totally spill all of my anxiety or excitement on them.
The thing is, you have no idea how good it feels to be able to talk about all this junk with the people who know you the best. BUT this is a REALLY bad and sort of unhealthy way to relate to the people you love the most.
so as my Lenten resolution, I'm working on finding a balance with the need to vent with the need to be me. this probably means that i'll talk about wedding stuff with my mom and through this blog... and then if someone really, REALLY, for real wants to know.
photo found via victoria with the roses
a belated valentine porcupine...
i don't get valentine's day (but i didn't want to be a scrooge for the people who do so this is a little bit belated) anyway, buying a lot of stuff that has hearts on it, or is red, or is really really full of sugar... what's the point?
but i DO love sharing love with the people who matter most. and, let's be honest, a specially designated day for it isn't a bad thing.
instead of a box of chocolate covered cherries or a big ole fancy dinner, I just drew my sweetheart a picture. (and he bought us a bottle of wine and a house DVD.. perfect.)
i love porcupines... they're cute AND snarly. (i can relate to this combo) not to mention the fact that after he does something silly sometimes boone will say "well, you're stuck with me." Then i say, "you mean, stuck ON you."
what other ways did you tell your pal/val-entines what they mean to you? or what ways do you tell them everyday? (i really want to know!)
but i DO love sharing love with the people who matter most. and, let's be honest, a specially designated day for it isn't a bad thing.
instead of a box of chocolate covered cherries or a big ole fancy dinner, I just drew my sweetheart a picture. (and he bought us a bottle of wine and a house DVD.. perfect.)
i love porcupines... they're cute AND snarly. (i can relate to this combo) not to mention the fact that after he does something silly sometimes boone will say "well, you're stuck with me." Then i say, "you mean, stuck ON you."
what other ways did you tell your pal/val-entines what they mean to you? or what ways do you tell them everyday? (i really want to know!)
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
what IS this?? #2
apparently today is gadget day.
the thing is, i don't really get people who are obsessed with gadgets and fancy TVs, phones, and game systems. i mean, it's cool to look at other people's flat screens and iphones, but i can def. live without either.
and to be honest, high-tech stuff freaks me out most of the time. But sometimes it totally amazes me and i get obessed with something..
for instance, yesterday on Marketplace I heard about this thing!
now, obviously i couldn't see how small it was on the radio, but apparently it's a projector the size of a deck of playing cards!
and from what Kai Ryssdal (my radio crush) said about the Samsung MPB200 projector, and how they might start putting this kind of technology in CELL PHONES so you can watch videos and see pictures without "huddling around the phone like a hobo around a garbage can" well, i was totally floored. i mean, what would this technology do for school teachers? and football lovers? and business people? whoa....
the thing is, i don't really get people who are obsessed with gadgets and fancy TVs, phones, and game systems. i mean, it's cool to look at other people's flat screens and iphones, but i can def. live without either.
and to be honest, high-tech stuff freaks me out most of the time. But sometimes it totally amazes me and i get obessed with something..
for instance, yesterday on Marketplace I heard about this thing!
now, obviously i couldn't see how small it was on the radio, but apparently it's a projector the size of a deck of playing cards!
and from what Kai Ryssdal (my radio crush) said about the Samsung MPB200 projector, and how they might start putting this kind of technology in CELL PHONES so you can watch videos and see pictures without "huddling around the phone like a hobo around a garbage can" well, i was totally floored. i mean, what would this technology do for school teachers? and football lovers? and business people? whoa....
what IS this?
this little guy is creeeeepy. and super cool...
so some photographer at the inauguration took a little photo using this and his digital camera.. so now YOU can FIND YOURSELF (only if you were at the inaug. btw) by zooming in on the GIANT photo (yes! nearly anywhere in the crowd!)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
color combo...
purple and orange... don't usually dig it, and it can be hard to make work but this is a FAB exception.
photo from kateheadly
photo from kateheadly
Monday, February 16, 2009
Feed bags... and bags that feed!
i rspotted these bags in this month's real simple... and since i HATE HATE HATE plastic grocery bags i was pretty excited. Did you know that apparently we use 4 to 5 trillion plastic bags a year worldwide?? And these bags, never, never disintegrate. ever.
now, i really hope this number has gone down a little since 2008 when publix and wholefoods (even kroger) started selling reusable bags in their stores, but with as many folks as i see leaving with seven or eight plastic bags of groceries, i doubt that it's diminished much.
anyway, for those of you who're always on the lookout for something cool looking AND something good for the world i thought i'd share this. now i know you've got tons of reusable shopping bag options out there, but here's a shopping bag that's not only reusable, but also FEEDS 100 children in a developing country. Also, the company has another one that feeds 1 child for an entire year. this is fabulous, and a great gift idea... besides, who doesn't love the rustic feel of a burlap feed sack?
now, i really hope this number has gone down a little since 2008 when publix and wholefoods (even kroger) started selling reusable bags in their stores, but with as many folks as i see leaving with seven or eight plastic bags of groceries, i doubt that it's diminished much.
anyway, for those of you who're always on the lookout for something cool looking AND something good for the world i thought i'd share this. now i know you've got tons of reusable shopping bag options out there, but here's a shopping bag that's not only reusable, but also FEEDS 100 children in a developing country. Also, the company has another one that feeds 1 child for an entire year. this is fabulous, and a great gift idea... besides, who doesn't love the rustic feel of a burlap feed sack?
Friday, February 13, 2009
but why?
why wear a veil? the truth is, i really don't know. I could look up the history behind it, but i'm sure it's some sort of paternalistic, really frustrating, sexist tradition. so, if you know, keep it to yourself, at least until May 23rd, ok?
do you have to wear a veil? um... absolutely not! do what makes you feel pretty (and doesn't cost a fortune)
but if you find one you like, they are pretty fun.... see?
first photo from la vie photography. the rest from ourlaboroflove
do you have to wear a veil? um... absolutely not! do what makes you feel pretty (and doesn't cost a fortune)
but if you find one you like, they are pretty fun.... see?
first photo from la vie photography. the rest from ourlaboroflove
gone awry.
oh dear.
please, please, please ladies (or gents)... don't do this to yourself.
before you get offended, just think... you're about to commit to the person who loves you the most.. just like you are!! obvi you want to look your best, but you don't want to look like someone else, do you? you're beautiful and your sweetheart already thinks so.
so, what I mean is, don't overdo it.
from wedding-veils.com
please, please, please ladies (or gents)... don't do this to yourself.
before you get offended, just think... you're about to commit to the person who loves you the most.. just like you are!! obvi you want to look your best, but you don't want to look like someone else, do you? you're beautiful and your sweetheart already thinks so.
so, what I mean is, don't overdo it.
from wedding-veils.com
Thursday, February 12, 2009
veil style guide
so if you're wondering "biz, what kind of veil goes with the feel of my wedding?" then here's a little style guide i put together from ourlaboroflove's blog... see what you think
swanky...
couture...
stylish...
romantic (ok, not a veil)
mysterious...
classic...
really fun...
hope you find what you're looking for.
swanky...
couture...
stylish...
romantic (ok, not a veil)
mysterious...
classic...
really fun...
hope you find what you're looking for.
what a racket...
why the heck do wedding veils cost more than my rent?
what kind of racket IS this? i mean, i get that it's hard to cut tulle straight, but $700 for some net and bobby pins?!? no way.
the thing is, i wasn't actually planning on wearing a veil since we're getting married in a small garden and i wanted to wear a braid with flowers in my hair...(a la jenna bush)
Then, i went to the alterations place and while i was trying on my dress (which FITS by the way... it was a deb dress from 5 years ago and it still fits!!!) they made me try on a few and of course i was completely smitten with the way i looked.
don't worry... no sparkly tiaras or weird looking blushers for this bride. or birdcage veils (loved the movie, hate the way they look on me) just simple, plain things.
we narrowed it down to two, one funky flyaway veil with small tulle and large net and another more classic one that was cathedral length with lace around the bottom. my mom and I LOVED them...then we saw the price tags. ACK! GASP! COUGH!
thankfully, we realized that my mom had her very simple, classic chapel length veil (see above) in a box somewhere. WHOO HOO! problem solved. so now, i'm thinking of making a switch to a feathered headthing for the reception. something like this...
while this is partially because it will be fun, it's also necessary. I'm probably the most clumsy person in the entire world and wearing anything that i may step on or get tangled up in is bad news bears.
anyway, for those of you not as lucky to have your mom's veil but don't want to spend what you might on uh, two days at the spa on your honeymoon, and you care about reducing, reusing, and recycling, check out sites like these:
encore bridal
bravobride
bride to bride boutique
i do now i don't
or go to a brides against breast cancer event to find what you're looking for.
what kind of racket IS this? i mean, i get that it's hard to cut tulle straight, but $700 for some net and bobby pins?!? no way.
the thing is, i wasn't actually planning on wearing a veil since we're getting married in a small garden and i wanted to wear a braid with flowers in my hair...(a la jenna bush)
Then, i went to the alterations place and while i was trying on my dress (which FITS by the way... it was a deb dress from 5 years ago and it still fits!!!) they made me try on a few and of course i was completely smitten with the way i looked.
don't worry... no sparkly tiaras or weird looking blushers for this bride. or birdcage veils (loved the movie, hate the way they look on me) just simple, plain things.
we narrowed it down to two, one funky flyaway veil with small tulle and large net and another more classic one that was cathedral length with lace around the bottom. my mom and I LOVED them...then we saw the price tags. ACK! GASP! COUGH!
thankfully, we realized that my mom had her very simple, classic chapel length veil (see above) in a box somewhere. WHOO HOO! problem solved. so now, i'm thinking of making a switch to a feathered headthing for the reception. something like this...
while this is partially because it will be fun, it's also necessary. I'm probably the most clumsy person in the entire world and wearing anything that i may step on or get tangled up in is bad news bears.
anyway, for those of you not as lucky to have your mom's veil but don't want to spend what you might on uh, two days at the spa on your honeymoon, and you care about reducing, reusing, and recycling, check out sites like these:
encore bridal
bravobride
bride to bride boutique
i do now i don't
or go to a brides against breast cancer event to find what you're looking for.
veils, uh.. unveiled.
going to do a little chatting about veils today and tomorrow. get ready!
Here's a little primer from the knot for those of us who are not part of the wic (wedding industrial complex) and have no idea what the differences are between chapels, poufs, mantillas, or nilla wafers. (that last one's not an actual veil.)
see? if you don't know the lingo you're totally lost!
anyway, stay tuned for what this bride (me) has learned about this "quintessential bridal accessory" whatever that means.
image from ourlaboroflove
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