Hey! Everyone! Listen up! Frank was on Jimmy Kimmel the other night. I was up in my kitchen doing homework. All of a sudden I heard Frank. I couldn't figure out where it was coming from and then I realized I had left my TV on in my basement. I ran down and there he was on Kimmel! It made me really giddy. So, instead of a the song I originally picked for today, here's a clip from Jimmy Kimmel.
Peggy Sang the Blues:
Tasty Tuesday: What Harry Eats
I'm too lazy this week to do anything but copy and paste a recipe from another site (don't worry, I included a link back to the original.) I picked this one because a) it's adorable, b) it's Harry Potter, and c) it's near Halloween.
"Golden Snitchcakes
From http://www.mugglenet.com/misc/rosmertas/goldensnitchcake.shtml
Ingredients:
- 1 box vanilla cake mix (and required ingredients required according to package)
- 2 tubs of buttercream frosting
- 1 package white melting chocolate
- yellow food coloring
Directions for Snitches:
Step 1: Line the bottom of two 12 cup muffin tins with paper liners.
Step 2: Prepare the cake mix according to package directions.
Step 3: Fill the cupcake liners to 2/3 full of batter.
Step 4: Bake according to package directions.
Directions for Wings:
Step 1: Melt the package of white chocolate according to package instructions.
Step 2: Spoon melted chocolate into a small ziplock bag. Using a pair of kitchen scissors, cut an extremely small piece of a bottom corner of the bag.
Step 3: Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Gently squeeze the ziploc bag to pipe the shape of a wing. Use butter knife to smooth the chocolate. Repeat process to create 2 wings per cupcake.
Step 4: Place cookie sheet and parchment paper with wings into the freezer to harden.
Directions to Assemble Golden Snitchcakes:
Step 1: Place 2/3 of frosting in bowl and add some yellow food coloring. Mix together and adjust color as necessary until it becomes the desired shade of gold.
Step 2: When cupcakes are completely cooled, use butter knife to spread the frosting over each cupcake.
Step 3: In a separate mixing bowl, mix remaining uncolored frosting with yellow food coloring until it is a lighter gold color than the cupcake frosting.
Step 4: Spoon this frosting into another small ziploc baggie and cut the corner extremely small.
Step 5: Gently squeeze this bag to pipe swirl pattern onto each cupcake.
Step 6: Take the hardened wings out of the freezer (they should easily peel away from parchment paper). Use a dab of remaining frosting to stick two wings on the side of each cupcake. ENJOY!!!"
Mix Tape Monday: Save a Prayer
In keeping with my creepy music sharefest, you know, since Halloween is so close, here's Duran Duran's "Save a Prayer":
Save a Prayer
You saw me standing by the wall,
Corner of a main street
And the lights are flashing on your window sill
All alone ain't much fun,
So you're looking for the thrill
And you know just what it takes and where to go
Don't save a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
No, don't say a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
Feel the breeze deep on the inside,
Look you down into the well
If you can, you'll see the world in all his fire
Take a chance
(Like all dreamers can't find another way)
You don't have to dream it all, just live a day
Don't say a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
No, don't say a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
Save it 'til the morning after,
Save it till the morning after
Pretty looking road,
try to hold the rising floods that fill my skin
Don't ask me why I'll keep my promise,
I'll melt the ice
And you wanted to dance so I asked you to dance
But fear is in your soul
Some people call it a one night stand
But we can call it paradise
Don't say a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
No, don't say a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
Save it 'til the morning after
Save it 'til the morning after
Save it 'til the morning after
Save it 'til the morning after
Save a prayer 'til the morning after
Save a Prayer
You saw me standing by the wall,
Corner of a main street
And the lights are flashing on your window sill
All alone ain't much fun,
So you're looking for the thrill
And you know just what it takes and where to go
Don't save a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
No, don't say a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
Feel the breeze deep on the inside,
Look you down into the well
If you can, you'll see the world in all his fire
Take a chance
(Like all dreamers can't find another way)
You don't have to dream it all, just live a day
Don't say a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
No, don't say a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
Save it 'til the morning after,
Save it till the morning after
Pretty looking road,
try to hold the rising floods that fill my skin
Don't ask me why I'll keep my promise,
I'll melt the ice
And you wanted to dance so I asked you to dance
But fear is in your soul
Some people call it a one night stand
But we can call it paradise
Don't say a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
No, don't say a prayer for me now,
Save it 'til the morning after
Save it 'til the morning after
Save it 'til the morning after
Save it 'til the morning after
Save it 'til the morning after
Save a prayer 'til the morning after
Penelope Room Project
So, I'm 24 and I live with my parents. But I'm okay with that. Because they have hooked me up with a sweet basement pad. I call it the Woman Cave. In the Woman Cave, I finally have abundant space to display my large collection of books. But, as the basement is newly finished - well, sort of, it was finished almost a year ago - there are still areas that require some finishing touches.
My bedroom, for instance, is quite bare since I had originally put my bookshelves in it and then later decided to move them to the den. All I have on my walls are one piece of painted metal that I picked up at Pottery Barn and calendar featuring historical covers from Rolling Stone.
(I've always wondered, did the band come first or the magazine? I should look that up.)
Anyways, recently I re-watched the movie Penelope (starring Christina Ricci and James McAvoy) and was completely blown away by the production design. The colors are gorgeous and are repeated everywhere throughout the film, making it extremely aesthetically pleasing and unifying the story. My favorite part, I have to say though, was the set design of Penelope's room/nursery. The first thing I noticed was that the color of her walls is similar to the color of my own bedroom walls. Thus, it gave me some great inspiration for decorating my room. My new project is going to be converting my room into something that emulates the same magical and ethereal quality that Penelope's room evokes.
Here are some images I grabbed from the film:
This green is really similar to the green in my room. I really love the burnt orange cushions here and I'm thinking about finding a bedspread that matches that color.
Her bedroom, which is off the nursery, is a reversal of the dominant colors. Here the bedspread is the same green as the nursery walls and the bedroom walls are kind of a rusty, burnt red. I love the large "windows."
Here is another view of the nursery. I'm going to have to copy the butterflies on the wall, except I will probably go for birds. I also really love the swing and would like to mimic the look possibly with a wall-mounted bookshelf. My room is not large enough for those beautiful metal room dividers, but I might be able to find a smaller wall ornament. The one thing that I really love but am not sure where I could fit any are the ornate terrariums you see all over the nursery.
I love this tree, but there's no way I have the time or resources to duplicate it. I'm considering creating a wall decal using ConTact paper, but I haven't quite decided if I want to keep the orange. Thoughts?
It's going to be a hefty project, but extremely satisfying, I imagine.
My bedroom, for instance, is quite bare since I had originally put my bookshelves in it and then later decided to move them to the den. All I have on my walls are one piece of painted metal that I picked up at Pottery Barn and calendar featuring historical covers from Rolling Stone.
(I've always wondered, did the band come first or the magazine? I should look that up.)
Anyways, recently I re-watched the movie Penelope (starring Christina Ricci and James McAvoy) and was completely blown away by the production design. The colors are gorgeous and are repeated everywhere throughout the film, making it extremely aesthetically pleasing and unifying the story. My favorite part, I have to say though, was the set design of Penelope's room/nursery. The first thing I noticed was that the color of her walls is similar to the color of my own bedroom walls. Thus, it gave me some great inspiration for decorating my room. My new project is going to be converting my room into something that emulates the same magical and ethereal quality that Penelope's room evokes.
Here are some images I grabbed from the film:
This green is really similar to the green in my room. I really love the burnt orange cushions here and I'm thinking about finding a bedspread that matches that color.
Her bedroom, which is off the nursery, is a reversal of the dominant colors. Here the bedspread is the same green as the nursery walls and the bedroom walls are kind of a rusty, burnt red. I love the large "windows."
Here is another view of the nursery. I'm going to have to copy the butterflies on the wall, except I will probably go for birds. I also really love the swing and would like to mimic the look possibly with a wall-mounted bookshelf. My room is not large enough for those beautiful metal room dividers, but I might be able to find a smaller wall ornament. The one thing that I really love but am not sure where I could fit any are the ornate terrariums you see all over the nursery.
It's going to be a hefty project, but extremely satisfying, I imagine.
Frank Turner Friday: One Foot Before the Other
Today's Frank Turner song is "One Foot Before the Other." It's a little more rock than his typical folksy stuff.
One Foot Before the Other
On the very day I die
The very last of my desires
Is that you take my broken body
And commit it to the fire
And then when the fire is finished
Scrape the ashes in a tin
Take them down to London’s drinking reservoirs
And throw them in
And then specks infinitesimal of my mortal remains
Will slide down 7 million throats and into 7 million veins
And I will creep through their capillaries to the marrow of their bones
And they will wake to bright new mornings and then wordlessly they’ll know
That I remain
I am remembered
I remain
I am remembered
So these 7 million innocents
They will have me in their blood
And when they die they’ll burn their bodies
Or be buried in the mud
And I will spread through streams and rivers like a virus through a host
From the hamlets to the cities from the rivers to the coast
And from there into the channel across the great Atlantic Ocean
And ever onwards to the new world
Through the waters gentle motions
Until parts of me are part of every land mass every sea
In the rain, up on your crops and in the very air you breath
I remain
I am remembered
I remain
I am remembered
I remain
And all the things I love will be washed away in the rain
I remain
I’m not convinced of the existence of these things that don’t exist
Yeah by Jewish boys with big ideas and scratches on their wrist
By a loving or a vengeful God
Or one who condescends
Who’ll wash his hands down in the mire among the misery of men
Or by ever turning circles hanging timeless in the sky
Like a dream catcher distracting from the fact you’re gonna die
But I place one foot before the other
Confident because
I know that everything we are right now is everything that was
That Watt Tyler, Woody, Guthrie, Dostoevsky and Davy Jones
Are all dissolved into the ether and have crept into my bones
And all the cells in all the lines upon the backs of both my hands
Were once carved into the details of two feet upon the sand
We remain
We are remembered
We remain
We are remembered
We remain
And all the things we love
Will be washed away in the rain
We remain
One Foot Before the Other
On the very day I die
The very last of my desires
Is that you take my broken body
And commit it to the fire
And then when the fire is finished
Scrape the ashes in a tin
Take them down to London’s drinking reservoirs
And throw them in
And then specks infinitesimal of my mortal remains
Will slide down 7 million throats and into 7 million veins
And I will creep through their capillaries to the marrow of their bones
And they will wake to bright new mornings and then wordlessly they’ll know
That I remain
I am remembered
I remain
I am remembered
So these 7 million innocents
They will have me in their blood
And when they die they’ll burn their bodies
Or be buried in the mud
And I will spread through streams and rivers like a virus through a host
From the hamlets to the cities from the rivers to the coast
And from there into the channel across the great Atlantic Ocean
And ever onwards to the new world
Through the waters gentle motions
Until parts of me are part of every land mass every sea
In the rain, up on your crops and in the very air you breath
I remain
I am remembered
I remain
I am remembered
I remain
And all the things I love will be washed away in the rain
I remain
I’m not convinced of the existence of these things that don’t exist
Yeah by Jewish boys with big ideas and scratches on their wrist
By a loving or a vengeful God
Or one who condescends
Who’ll wash his hands down in the mire among the misery of men
Or by ever turning circles hanging timeless in the sky
Like a dream catcher distracting from the fact you’re gonna die
But I place one foot before the other
Confident because
I know that everything we are right now is everything that was
That Watt Tyler, Woody, Guthrie, Dostoevsky and Davy Jones
Are all dissolved into the ether and have crept into my bones
And all the cells in all the lines upon the backs of both my hands
Were once carved into the details of two feet upon the sand
We remain
We are remembered
We remain
We are remembered
We remain
And all the things we love
Will be washed away in the rain
We remain
Tasty Tuesday: Duke Wellingtons
I recently read Great Gatsby for the first time. So, in keeping with a theme, I decided to re-title this recipe as a something 20's related. I hope you enjoy!
Duke Wellingtons (an appetizer):
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds beef tenderloin (or filet mignon), cut into 24 (1-inch) cubes
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 10 ounces mushrooms, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon of white wine
- 1/2 teaspoon of garlic
- 1 small white onion, finely chopped
- 5-10 ounces of spinach (as desired)
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the beef dry with a paper towel and season all sides with salt and pepper. Quickly sear the beef on 2 sides only until deep golden brown, about 4 minutes total; do not overcook. Transfer to a plate to cool.
- Add the mushrooms and cook until beginning to brown and release liquid, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and continue cooking until mushroom mixture dries out, is golden brown and onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in white wine. Let cool.
- Preheat to the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- On a work surface, roll 1 sheet of puff pastry to a 10 by 14-inch rectangle. Put teaspoon-sized mounds of mushroom mixture on the pastry, evenly spacing them in 4 rows of 3. Top the mushroom mound with a piece of beef, seared side up. If desired, insert spinach between the mushrooms and the beef). With a sharp knife, cut the pastry into even squares around the meat and mushrooms. Working 1 at a time, pull 2 opposite sides of pastry up over each beef piece, then fold the ends over the top to make a packet. Invert and arrange the packets seam side down on the baking sheet and press them lightly to seal the pastry. Repeat with the remaining beef, mushrooms, and pastry.
- Bake the Wellingtons until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven to a serving platter and let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
Mix Tape Monday: Shake the Disease
I'm posting this super late! But I know I forewarned you that Mondays and Tuesdays are 15 hour days for me. Anyhoo, for today's Mix Tape Monday, I present to you Depeche Mode's "Shake the Disease." Maybe because it's October, or maybe because I'm just odd, I've really been digging creepy/eerie sounding music. It probably helps that I just finished Dracula and am currently reading The Historian (both creepy in their own right). But, in all honesty, I've always loved creepy music. Thinking back to childhood, I generally loved the creepy-ish villain songs in Disney (and non-Disney) movies.
Some favorites include "In the Dark of the Night" from Anastasia Anastasia - In The Dark Of The Night
Some favorites include "In the Dark of the Night" from Anastasia Anastasia - In The Dark Of The Night
Frank Turner Friday: Sailor's Boots
I'm sorry for the delinquency today, it's been a busy one. I chose "Sailor's Boots" for this week's Frank Turner Friday because it reminds me of an Irish ballad. It's lovely. It is the b-side for his song "If I Ever Stray," which is another favorite of mine but is a little too upbeat for my current mood. Maybe I'll post it next week. If there isn't another one that I feeling more inclined towards. According to Frank's website, this song used to be titled "Rod Stewart." As I have only recently discovered Frank, I will only ever know it as "Sailor's Boots."
Sailor's Boots
If I had been born 200 years ago
I would have been a sailor, a-sailing I would go
I'd sail around the capes, across the seven seas and then back home
If I had been born 200 years ago
And I would know the waters and the waters would know me
I would cut across the waves and be as happy as can be
I'd be landless, I'd be loveless, I'd be flight and fancy free
And would know the waters and the waters would know me
And when I think about the place and time were I was born
Well, I wonder if the hands of fate have slipped and placed me wrong
'Cause there are ships I could have sailed and sailor's boots I could've worn
When I think about the place and time were I was born
But the ocean is still out there magnificent and wide
With open arms to hold me, and endless space to hide,
And the only things that hold me back are things I hold inside
The ocean is still out there magnificent and wide
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
A-sailing I should go
Sailor's Boots
If I had been born 200 years ago
I would have been a sailor, a-sailing I would go
I'd sail around the capes, across the seven seas and then back home
If I had been born 200 years ago
And I would know the waters and the waters would know me
I would cut across the waves and be as happy as can be
I'd be landless, I'd be loveless, I'd be flight and fancy free
And would know the waters and the waters would know me
And when I think about the place and time were I was born
Well, I wonder if the hands of fate have slipped and placed me wrong
'Cause there are ships I could have sailed and sailor's boots I could've worn
When I think about the place and time were I was born
But the ocean is still out there magnificent and wide
With open arms to hold me, and endless space to hide,
And the only things that hold me back are things I hold inside
The ocean is still out there magnificent and wide
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
A-sailing I should go
For the Bride
One of my best friends is getting married in a little over a month. She just moved out to Boston. For her bridal shower, we had to get a little creative and find gifts with one of the letters from her name (they were assigned). Naturally, I received the letter "Z." I went with a zebra theme (which matched the animal print theme of the Bachelorette Party, so...win) and wrote her a poem instead of getting a card. I thought I'd share it with y'all. Disclaimer: this poem includes inside jokes.
Another WTF Day
So, I'm kind of a mess today.
1. I got shin splints walking from work to class because I lost track of time. I got from one end of campus to the other in just under 10 minutes.
2. You know that scene in Airplane where the guy is like, "I have a drinking problem," and every time he goes to take a drink he splashes it on his face instead?
Well, I think I have a drinking problem. Only, instead of missing my mouth, I am actually able to take a sip, but then I randomly and involuntarily spit it out. I did this with my coffee in the middle of class. If anyone noticed, nobody said anything. I played it cool. Well, as cool as you can play drooling on yourself, anyway.
3. I purchased said coffee from a vending machine. It was supposed to cost $1.10. I put in $2. The change I received was 35 cents and a watch battery...
4. I tripped myself stepping into my pajama bottoms. They are shorts.
1. I got shin splints walking from work to class because I lost track of time. I got from one end of campus to the other in just under 10 minutes.
2. You know that scene in Airplane where the guy is like, "I have a drinking problem," and every time he goes to take a drink he splashes it on his face instead?
Well, I think I have a drinking problem. Only, instead of missing my mouth, I am actually able to take a sip, but then I randomly and involuntarily spit it out. I did this with my coffee in the middle of class. If anyone noticed, nobody said anything. I played it cool. Well, as cool as you can play drooling on yourself, anyway.
3. I purchased said coffee from a vending machine. It was supposed to cost $1.10. I put in $2. The change I received was 35 cents and a watch battery...
4. I tripped myself stepping into my pajama bottoms. They are shorts.
Tasty Tuesday: Dracula's Kiss
Halloween is pretty much my favorite holiday. That's not really true. I kind of love all holidays. But Halloween is always loads of fun. And, sadly, I'll be in class this Halloween. So to get into the spirit early, this year I decided to finally finish reading Dracula. If you've been an avid reader, you'll know that I don't particularly love Twilight, but I do love me some vampire tales.
(If you haven't been an avid reader, I suggest you get with the program.)
I videotaped every rerun of Buffy when I was a freshman in high school. I watched True Blood religiously, until it got all weird (second season). I read the Vampire Diaries books and I DVR the show. And I did, in fact, read all of the Twilight novels because, terrible as they are, they suck you in (no pun intended).
(If you're at all interested in hearing my full rantings on Twilight just go here. And here. Oh, and here too. I think you probably get the picture.)
But, I have to say, one of the best vampire novels of all time and one of my personal favorites, is Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova, which is told from the perspective of a young girl that is searching for her missing father. (Without giving anything away, there's some connections to Dracula). The reason that this novel is so great is because it's not just about a vampire, but about the man who became the vampire. And because I'd never read Dracula, I felt like I was owing it to Kostova to read the inspiration for her masterpiece.
So, like I said, I finished Dracula last night. I tried to read it last summer but found some other shiny thing to distract me instead. But I'm glad I gave it another chance, because not only does it help me make better connections with the Historian, but so many other literary and cultural references as well. Not to mention, it is deliciously creepy.
So, in honor of Dracula, I present to you this cocktail recipe that I found at here.
Dracula's Kiss:
(If you haven't been an avid reader, I suggest you get with the program.)I videotaped every rerun of Buffy when I was a freshman in high school. I watched True Blood religiously, until it got all weird (second season). I read the Vampire Diaries books and I DVR the show. And I did, in fact, read all of the Twilight novels because, terrible as they are, they suck you in (no pun intended).
(If you're at all interested in hearing my full rantings on Twilight just go here. And here. Oh, and here too. I think you probably get the picture.)
But, I have to say, one of the best vampire novels of all time and one of my personal favorites, is Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova, which is told from the perspective of a young girl that is searching for her missing father. (Without giving anything away, there's some connections to Dracula). The reason that this novel is so great is because it's not just about a vampire, but about the man who became the vampire. And because I'd never read Dracula, I felt like I was owing it to Kostova to read the inspiration for her masterpiece.
So, like I said, I finished Dracula last night. I tried to read it last summer but found some other shiny thing to distract me instead. But I'm glad I gave it another chance, because not only does it help me make better connections with the Historian, but so many other literary and cultural references as well. Not to mention, it is deliciously creepy.
So, in honor of Dracula, I present to you this cocktail recipe that I found at here.
Dracula's Kiss:
Dracula's Kiss is a haunting cocktail for Halloween parties. The drink creates two layers: the bottom is red with grenadine and the top is black with cola. Add spiders to the drink or hang them on the glass for a ghoulish finishing touch. Both Smirnoff and Effen make great black cherry vodkas. (I would stick to Effen, though, because Smirnoff always gives me heartburn).
Ingredients:
- 1 oz black cherry vodka
- 1/2 oz grenadine
- cola
- maraschino cherries for garnish
Preparation:
- Coat the bottom of a highball glass with grenadine.
- Add ice and vodka.
- Fill with cola.
- Garnish with cherries.
Dear Tea,
I'm sorry I've been spending all my time with coffee. I promise to do better.
Sincerely,
Jo
Sincerely,
Jo
Mix Tape Monday: Karma Police
This is Karma Police by Radiohead. I really love Radiohead. They pretty much always satisfy my thirst for eerie music.
And people keep buzzing about the Panic cover. Forget Panic. It's alright, but they don't have Thom Yorke. Radiohead = win.
Karma Police
Karma police, arrest this man
He talks in maths
He buzzes like a fridge
He's like a detuned radio
Karma police, arrest this girl
Her Hitler hairdo is
Making me feel ill
And we have crashed her party
This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get when you mess with us
Karma police
I've given all I can
It's not enough
I've given all I can
But we're still on the payroll
This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get when you mess with us
And for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
For for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
And people keep buzzing about the Panic cover. Forget Panic. It's alright, but they don't have Thom Yorke. Radiohead = win.
Karma Police
Karma police, arrest this man
He talks in maths
He buzzes like a fridge
He's like a detuned radio
Karma police, arrest this girl
Her Hitler hairdo is
Making me feel ill
And we have crashed her party
This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get when you mess with us
Karma police
I've given all I can
It's not enough
I've given all I can
But we're still on the payroll
This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get when you mess with us
And for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
For for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
Tracking
So, since Blogger is paired with Google, it does this thing where it tracks your visitors. Should I be a little creeped out that some of my traffic is coming from an escort services website in Kiev? I'm just saying...
Sweet Dreams, Monkey
So, I've had this t-shirt in my closet for about six years. It was my favorite t-shirt my freshman year of college. You may have seen it before. It was the Low t-shirt that Kirsten Dunst's character sported with the red beanie in Elizabethtown.
Anyway, my shirt does not even come close to fitting me anymore. But I have not been able to bring myself to throw it away. I'd order a new one, but the website doesn't seem to sell t-shirts anymore (unless I'm blind).
I was thinking about making a t-shirt quilt, but who has the time for that? Definitely not me. But I do have time, I decided, to make a pillow. So I did. And it's pretty ugly. I love it anyway.
I didn't do anything right with this pillow. I didn't just get a pillow mold and use the shirt as a pillowcase, which would have been much more practical. I did, however, sew the shirt together with the wrong color thread (I don't know how to change the thread on my mama's sewing machine). And I probably sewed it in the wrong places. And there was that awkward inward curve where the arms were that, were I to sew in a straight line, would have cut off part of the graphic. So I used the back side of the shirt as an extension and then tried to make the front of the pillow look like an upside down envelope. This all sounds pretty convoluted, right? Well, it is.
Then, in an attempt to make the pillow look a little cuter (failure) I added a few blue buttons. Have a look. Don't be afraid to chuckle, I know it's no masterpiece. My mother would probably be ashamed of seamstressy skills (or lack thereof).
And, of course, since sharing is caring, I'll leave you with my favorite Low song, just so you understand why I couldn't get rid of this shirt. They're awesome. And this song is beautifully creepy.
I was thinking about making a t-shirt quilt, but who has the time for that? Definitely not me. But I do have time, I decided, to make a pillow. So I did. And it's pretty ugly. I love it anyway.
I didn't do anything right with this pillow. I didn't just get a pillow mold and use the shirt as a pillowcase, which would have been much more practical. I did, however, sew the shirt together with the wrong color thread (I don't know how to change the thread on my mama's sewing machine). And I probably sewed it in the wrong places. And there was that awkward inward curve where the arms were that, were I to sew in a straight line, would have cut off part of the graphic. So I used the back side of the shirt as an extension and then tried to make the front of the pillow look like an upside down envelope. This all sounds pretty convoluted, right? Well, it is.
Then, in an attempt to make the pillow look a little cuter (failure) I added a few blue buttons. Have a look. Don't be afraid to chuckle, I know it's no masterpiece. My mother would probably be ashamed of seamstressy skills (or lack thereof).
And, of course, since sharing is caring, I'll leave you with my favorite Low song, just so you understand why I couldn't get rid of this shirt. They're awesome. And this song is beautifully creepy.
Low: Monkey
Frank Turner Friday: Substitute
Substitute
The first girl that I fell for was a fair and faithful fighter
She smouldered with a will to save the world
I did my best to help her, yeah I stood shoulder to shoulder
On the front lines with my visionary girl
I wish that she had cared for me
But in the end her ideologies
Occupied the fortress of her heart
I wrote her 15 songs, but still we had to part
And if music was the food of love
Then I'd be a fat romantic slob
Well music, it's my substitute for love
The last girl that I loved she was a low and lusty liar
She set my heart on fire, but made me choke
Her beauty was a sight to see, but she didn't save it all for me
I found other fires by following the smoke
I wish that she had either cared for me or
let be me
But she chased me from mind and from my home
I wrote her 16 songs, but I ended up alone
And if love is really all that we need
Then even all my singing is never gonna save me
Music it's my substitute for love
Well I've had many different girls inside my bed
But only one or two inside my head
These days I cuddle up to my guitar instead
But oh, what I would give, not to stumble but to really fall in love
And I could substitute my singing for the sound of someone sleeping next to me
Tasty Tuesday: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
I have not tried this recipe yet. But when I lived with my roommate, her mom sent us some similar treats. They were delicious. I can't wait to try this one out. Here's to hoping I get a break from homework sometime soon. Semi-regular sleep would also be good...
Here's the recipe, borrowed from Spork or Foon:
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies adapted from Joy the Baker
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup canola or corn oil
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips, or any chip you like
Position a rack in the middle of the oven . Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and butter the paper.
Stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together in a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing. On low speed, mix the oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until blended. Mix in the flour mixture to incorporate it. Mix in the chips.
Using an ice cream scoop with a 1/4-cup capacity, scoop mounds of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies at least 2 1/2-inches apart. You could also simply use a 1/4-cup measuring cup if you don’t have a scoop. Use a thin metal spatula to smooth and flatten the rounds.
Bake the cookies one sheet at a time until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry, about 16 minutes. Cool them on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then use a wide metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool cimpletely.
Dust the cooled cookies lightly with powdered sugar. The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Be sure to check out other amazing recipes at Spork or Foon!
Mix Tape Monday: Kickoff
I thought I'd start doing theme days. Monday is actually my 15-hour work day so...we'll see how long this lasts.
Anyway, I work with web, so I listen to Pandora and Musicovery a lot. Today my Pandora station has been playing a ton of The Smiths and Morrissey and the like. So, naturally, I got a snippet of lyric stuck in my head from a song that had not played but happened to reference "The Smiths and Morrissey." It took me a while of random google searching to find it. I was pretty sure it was either the Postal Service or Brand New, but everything I typed into the search engine just resulted in actual Smiths and Morrissey songs. Finally, I found it. It is, indeed, Brand New. The song is called Mix Tape, which is rather fitting for the theme, if I do say so myself. Here's the lyrics, I really like them. You should too.
"Mix Tape"
I got a twenty-dollar bill that says no one's ever seen you without makeup.
You're always made up.
And I'm sick of your tattoos,
and the way you always criticize the Smiths... and Morrissey.
And I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic.
But when I say let's keep in touch,
I really mean I wish that you'd grow up.
This is the first song for your mix tape.
It's short just like your temper,
but somewhat golden like the afternoons we used to spend before you got too cool...
I got a twenty-dollar bill that says no one's ever seen you without makeup.
You're always made up.
And I'm sick of your tattoos, and the way you don't appreciate Brand New or me
And I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic.
But when I say let's keep in touch,
I hope you know I mean I wish that you'd grow up.
This is the first song for your mix tape.
It's short just like your temper,
but somewhat golden like the afternoons we used to spend before you got too cool...
(yeah, but I wish you were my shadow.)
Anyway, I work with web, so I listen to Pandora and Musicovery a lot. Today my Pandora station has been playing a ton of The Smiths and Morrissey and the like. So, naturally, I got a snippet of lyric stuck in my head from a song that had not played but happened to reference "The Smiths and Morrissey." It took me a while of random google searching to find it. I was pretty sure it was either the Postal Service or Brand New, but everything I typed into the search engine just resulted in actual Smiths and Morrissey songs. Finally, I found it. It is, indeed, Brand New. The song is called Mix Tape, which is rather fitting for the theme, if I do say so myself. Here's the lyrics, I really like them. You should too.
"Mix Tape"
| Brand New - Mix Tape .mp3 | ||
 | ||
 | Found at bee mp3 search engine |  |
I got a twenty-dollar bill that says no one's ever seen you without makeup.
You're always made up.
And I'm sick of your tattoos,
and the way you always criticize the Smiths... and Morrissey.
And I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic.
But when I say let's keep in touch,
I really mean I wish that you'd grow up.
This is the first song for your mix tape.
It's short just like your temper,
but somewhat golden like the afternoons we used to spend before you got too cool...
I got a twenty-dollar bill that says no one's ever seen you without makeup.
You're always made up.
And I'm sick of your tattoos, and the way you don't appreciate Brand New or me
And I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic.
But when I say let's keep in touch,
I hope you know I mean I wish that you'd grow up.
This is the first song for your mix tape.
It's short just like your temper,
but somewhat golden like the afternoons we used to spend before you got too cool...
(yeah, but I wish you were my shadow.)
And the insanity continues...
In my teaching certification program this semester, I am required to perform 50 clinical hours. The first 25 in a high school and the second 25 in a middle school. I am wrapping up the first half the the clinicals, so a couple weeks ago I decided it was time to make contact with the cooperating teacher for the middle school. I emailed her to let her know my availability and asked her to respond with the days in my availability that would work best for her. After a week, I still hadn't received a response. I emailed the program director and she told me to wait a couple more days and then call the school. Yesterday, I called the school and asked if there was a better way to get in touch with the teacher. She died over the summer. I emailed the program director again to update her and try to find out where to go from here. She basically told me to handle it myself rather than doing her job and finding me a new placement. Apparently she has found a new job and is quitting, so she has no intention of helping me out at all. This so would happen to me.
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