So You Think You Can Bake?
Mar 1, 2010 A House is a Home, Life
Every year I host an Oscar party for my family. While I’d love to have a dinner that stays completely in theme, I’m not an event planner. I just don’t have the whole vision.
This year I decided to take a stab at least at planning a themed dessert. Now if I could bake, I’d follow the expert advice from Bakerella. Man that girl can bake! I’m bookmarking the movie popcorn brownies for next year. This year, I’m sticking to a movie themed desserts: licorice, caramel popcorn, and perhaps come cake pops. OK, the cake pops aren’t a traditional movie theme dessert, but I’m intrigued by Bakerella’s cake pops. Bakerella makes baking look so easy that even I think I can bake. Before you know it, I’ll be baking this red velvet cake.
I’ll let you know how it goes. With a bit of luck, my camera will cooperate and I’ll get some good pictures.
All Things Purple
Nov 30, 2009 Life
For years I’ve liked purple. When ever I bought accessories, like water bottles, I’d select the purple one. Then for a few years purple fell off the radar at the stores. I guess it was no longer a current trend color. Well guess what? It’s back. Yea! This weekend I picked up a couple of purple accessories: gloves and a clasp wallet. The photo above contains various purple items that I found around the house. They’re glad to have more purple friends.
And this is my last post for NaBloPoMo for 2009. It’s been great. I’ll be taking a break for a few days as I travel for work. When I come back I’ll share the present I’m making for as a neighbor gift.
Non-stop Saturday
OK, most Saturday are non stop. However I actually got a lot accomplished today.
I started the day by going to quilt group. We meet the 3rd Saturday of every month. I don’t know how long I’ve been doing this, but I’d guess around five years. It’s great opportunity to form friendships, see beautiful quilts, and stay motivated to create more quilts.
I came home to a yard full of leaves and no rain. The weather forecast predicated rain. I really wanted to get the leaves raked before the inclement weather set in. Ross had the back yard raked. I set to blowing the leaves in the front yard. By 4:00 pm, we had 12 bags of leaves ready for city pickup.
Unfortunately, we still need to blow out some leaves in the back yard. With a bit of luck and weather cooperation, I’ll get this done on Wednesday.
Even though I was exhausted from picking up leaves, I was determined to buy some new yarn for a Thanksgiving project. In an effort to be kind to my checking account, I went to Michael’s with coupon in hand. I walked out with four skeins of Vanna’s Choice and a set of crochet needles for less than $20, not too bad.
While the yard isn’t my first choice (100% arcylic), it will keep me busy. I have done any crochet in years. I’m hoping my sister in law can help me remember everything that I’ve forgotten.
Finally, I made brownies for dinner. I have to admit it isn’t the most nutritious option. However, it made us happy. Of course we supplemented it with some other boring stuff like baby carrots.
Now I need to design a little case for my crochet needles before I lose them.
I “heart” Notebooks
Nov 20, 2009 Life
Recently I gathered all my pens and notebooks into one pile to take inventory. While I knew that I liked pens and that I had more than my fair share, I was surprised to see the how many notebooks I use. In my ideal world, I would have fewer. They would all be the same. When I filled one up, it would be placed on a bookshelf. Over time, I’d have a nice shelf full of notebooks that I’ve filled. Then reality sets in. I think I like a different notebook for every subject in my life, or at least that’s what it look like when I look at my current stash.
Here’s my current lineup:
Drawing pad: A year ago, I took a drawing class. It was a good experience for me in so many ways. I discovered that with a bit of practice and a lot of patience, I could learn to draw. So I bought a portable drawing pad. (For class, I used a 18 x 24 pad, not so portable.) Well, I haven’t used it as much as I thought I would. Yet, I still have bit of drawings in here. Last Spring, my niece and I played with my oil pastels. She had her notebook. I had mine. Don’t you like my dragon?
I drew it from a how-to-draw book that I had as a child. It was fun to see my niece use a book that I enjoyed as a child.
Computer notebook: I keep this notebook next to my computer. This notebook is pretty much a huge scratch pad. I record random things from the internet that need to be recorded, like confirmation numbers from paying online bills, book & movie recommendations, and numbers. You know numbers you can’t remember, but need to remember. This is one notebook that doesn’t need to be consolidated. It needs to just sit by my compute and always be there.
Sewing Ideas: Whenever I read an interview on a designer that I like, they always talk about the sketch books use to formulate their ideas. My idea book has a list of projects that I’ve started and need to complete. As I start a project, I keep track of my sketches, measurements, failures, and successes. When I use this notebook, it’s invaluable. My biggest problem is using this notebook consistenly. I think I need to get in the habit of having this notebook with me at all times. Then when a thought strikes, I can record it. I probably need a smaller notebook if I’m going to haul it around with me all the time.
Journal: While I enjoy writing about my life on my blog, I’m not willing to share the my nitty-gritty-life details with world. Those thoughts go in my journal. Also, belive it or not, I’m not always around a computer when I want to write. Since I only use a journal part time, it takes a bit of time to fill it. I started this journal in December 2008. It’s less than half way full. Sometimes, I think I should write more just so I can buy another notebook.
Planner: I use a planner mostly to give the appearance of being organized. I bought this one from Paper Source. Again, I’d like to replace it with an iPhone. If that doesn’t happen this Christmas, I need to settle for something smaller. I’d rather cart around an idea notebook than a planner.
Plan-my-own-business notebook: OK, this is a bit of dream, but I have ideas. I started working with the Boss of You book. At first I recorded these ideas in another book. Then I realized that I needed to keep these thoughts together. I bought these thinner Moleskines just for this purpose. I have to admit the colors make me happy.
Grocery shopping list: Really this should be called the Saturday to-do-list notebook. Here I record my shopping list and general errand list. Mostly, I use it, because I already have it. It fits into my purse for the day. I’d like to replace it with an iPhone.
Wow! That was quite the post.
My Thanksgiving Dilemma
Nov 16, 2009 Knitting, Life, Quilting
Thanksgiving is just over a week away. The food is all arranged. I have my food assignment, pies, and I have time off work to make the pies. Well be enjoying our feast at my parent’s house.
Now I need to arrange my entertainment. After we eat more food than necessary, we usually end up spending a lot of time sitting around watching movies. I’m not very good at just sitting and watching movies without doing something with my hands. So I trying to consider my options. So far this is what I’ve come up with:
- Start a knitting project. Since I’m in a practical mood said knitting project needs to be useful. I have a very nice hat and mittens. I’d like a lacey hat that’s more for looks than warmth, Option 1, Option 2, Option 3. If the hat doesn’t suit me, I think a scarf, Option 1 or Option 2, might work. And if the hats and scarves don’t suit me, I can always knit an a blanket to drape over the foot of our bed, Option 1.
- Build a puzzle
- Work on an existing project, like my baby hexagons or an embroidery project. I have a few in the works.
Really, it comes down to what I willing to spend money on. Do I really need a new project? Can’t I be entertained with what I have. Oh the dilemma. (sigh) Right now I think I’m leaning toward a puzzle and an existing project. Of course if somebody shows me a knitting pattern that I can’t live without, I could easily be persuaded.
Half-way Mark
Nov 15, 2009 Life
OK, I’d like to come with a clever post with lots of good updates about my productive weekend, but I don’t think it is going to happen. The down side of a productive weekend is the tiredness that quickly takes over. I will share the highlight from today sans photo.
My mom’s birthday is the week of Thanksgiving. Her birthday dessert always gets over shadowed by Thanksgiving pie. It’s hard to compete with pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie. So, today I made my mom her birthday cake, a Raisin Cake. It was actually really good. I’m only surprised because I’m not much of a baker. Now, I’m feeling motivated to bake those pies.
