Things left to do in 2006

1. Frost cupcakes (for which I need to buy icing sugar).
2. Inflate balloons for Brett & Cynthia's party.
3. Arrange a student loan payment.
4. Laundry.
5. Clean my room at my parents, (this one won't get done).
6. Visit Jenn, look at pictures.
7. Buy shoes for party.
8. Shave legs, dress, get made-up, do hair, etc.
9. Brush Chloe.
10. Call Roisin.

Happy Christmas!!

(these are my parent's neighbours. for serious)

pretty ladies!!

A pile of us at Lauren's holiday party extravaganza!!

I'm employed!!!

well, sort of. I just got a call confirming my spot in a Youth Entrepreneurship Program. For 16 weeks (begining in January) I will be working on my business plan and market research to begin my own company. I am quite giddy this morning, I am as flush as drunk Cara!

A photo from christmas past

In 2003 I spent Christmas in the Dominican Republic with Dave's family. This is Catherine and I Christmas morning waiting to start the day by horseback riding.

shopped.

Friday night was Lauren's Annual Holiday Party. Chloe and I had a blast, and I swear I only had 3 glasses of wine. (um, they may have been triple servings though...... Lauren, where did you get such big glasses??)

The next day my mum and I went to Port Huron, MI to mail a package intended for our New Jersey family and get some shopping in. The car ride awoke a serious hangover that wasn't there before 2pm. We grabbed some pizza in the food court, and while I ate slowly my mum ran to the US Postal outlet to check the hours. This is when I was accosted by a 15yr old Michiganer. She had come up to me and said with a nasty smirk on her face "Hi, I don't mean to be rude, but your butt crack is showing by [insert hand gesture measuring half an inch], and well, could you pull your pants up, I don't want to be rude, but you know, your butt is hanging out. [insert snicker and giggles]" SERIOUSLY. I nearly killed her. She was being totally rude and while yes, I had been wearing lowrider jeans, they were far far far from offensive, and she was picking on me because I was eating alone. I bitched her out for two minutes before I sent her off. I turned around to see her snickering behind me at a small table with her sister and her mom.

Honestly, I almost decked her. I have been known to show a little crack, but I was wearing a belt, and the pants were NOT low at all. I think what caught their attention was probably my large-ish back tattoo, not my ass (my shirt had ridden up a smidge). And while there is little you can say about my heart and banner tattoo, somehow, somewhere, somebody made it socially acceptable to comment on a person's pants slung low? I'm sure if my tits were out there would be no call for teeny-bopper in my face insults. Or if I had a birthmark, or worse yet some sort of figure deformation? What if I was male? That would change things considerably.

I was totally taken aback by the crass-ness of the teen, and that her mom allowed her to say something like that to a stranger, let alone another woman. If she was truely being sincere there were many other ways to have said what she did (which I proceeded to tell her) and there is a huge difference between letting someone know their slip is showing than outright pointing it out and mocking them to their face. UGHH.

I had to sit there, alone, for five more minutes waiting for my mom to hurry back from the postal outlet because I had no idea which direction it was.

Seven shopping hours later I had finally cooled down, and we headed back home with a trunkload full of prezzies.

Sunday, I met a new friend for coffee and a stroll down Richmond Row. I had a really good time, and am happily reporting that I have restored investment in the notion that Canadians are a much more friendly people than Americans.

Chloe's first Canadian Clip!

She was long overdue for some grooming, so this morning I sent her for her first clip since we've had her. (The last picture is totally blurred, but she moves too much to get a decent shot, and I wanted to show her silhouette). I think the top may be a little too high for me, but it was all around a great shape. Now what I know how the groomer does it, I can change it up next time!


please mind my grandma's ugly old couch!

Cookies!

Gingerbread houses weren't really a holiday staple for me growing up. We had them some years, but not annually by any means. What we did have was a cookie tree. Both gingerbread or sugar cookie trees are made and shared with neighbours and extended family.

The trees are made from a series of 6 star shaped cookie cutters made by Wilton. A few Christmases ago the cookie tree kits re-appeared on the market and my mum bought every set she saw. (Many of her friends wanted them after years of seeing our trees). That Christmas my sister and I each got a set, along with some hand-woven cotton tea-towels and 2 industrial cookie sheets. The cookie sheets were originally purchased by a family friend who owns a restaurant, but they were not quite the size his oven took. On my list this year are the matching silpat cookie sheet liners, and a pair of oversized cooling racks.

Until June of this year I kept these things in one of three boxes labeled "kitchen stuff not for stinky roommates" in my parents basement. (Stinky roommates does refer to 4 people in particular, but also more generally all of the roommates I had over the years, nobody really understood how to take care of other people's cookware).

Sunday I made my very first cookie tree in my home. Three of each size cookie is stacked and "glued" with icing. I used my favourite neon green cakemate food colouring and moved it into a deep green in 5 stages using the standard cake mate food colour. Then I liberally covered it in green sanding sugar.
(We had it eaten by Monday lunch).




Here are some of the stray cookies after I'd made the tree.

Dog Boots!

Now that the snow is gone, they've been sitting in our boot tray, but we got two whole days of use from them!!
I made these from wool and recycled suede. (With Velcro obviously).

Let it Snow!!

I got my Nestie Secert Santa Package! 6 Handmade ornaments from Deanne in Victoria, BC. I love them and they are all already on my tree!

Our tree! (pre-decor....)

officially in the Christmas Spirit

I made my Christmas door-wreath, then promptly forgot it in London (with Dave's overnight bag and our beer). My mum and I scoured 3 thrift shops for ornaments 10$ bought me loads of German style wooden ornaments, some vintage glass balls (of varied age), a couple of classic 1960's plastic ornaments (flocked santa and a candy cane wrapped in red cellow ribbon) and a few long lost crafted ones. Here is a terrible photo courtesy of mum's blackberry device:

Made from a felted men's cable-knit cardigan (slightly dyed pink from a purple sweater in the same cycle) and letters from Dave's youth.

Swap!!

Today I got my package from the craftster "birds are beautiful" swap. There were so many goodies!!

And the goodies:

notecards and a small trinket box (the lid is a shadow box)

box detail, pardon my inapptitude to phtograph small glass objects

a woolly stuffed bird, decoupaged votive holders and a clay brooch

a magazine caddy

mixed media illustrations (the medallions have bird images)

a couple of ornaments and a ceramic toucan!

This was a really fun experience, and I'll try a new swap theme in 2007!!

no subject

Just an old picture since I haven't got much to say today. This is Christo's infamous gates in Central Park. I went with some girlfriends from school.

blah, another job missed

So I found out today that I wasn't chosen for further interviews at the tattoo shop (counter person). Which blows. I thought I would be pretty good at it, I guess they had someone else in mind. I feel quite useless from time to time, and today was very much one of those days.

I'm not really sure what I am doing wrong. Or why I can't find work in a moderatley creative environment.

Anyhow, I decided today was a good day to cave for my gingerbread craving and made myself some cookies. They really did help. (Though not with the "I can't fit into any jeans but the two pairs I ripped last week because I weigh way too much....")

Sigh.

How did I rip my jeans? Well, falling down the drive-way of course. With Chloe in my arms. It really wasn't fun, and I was basically immobile for two days. I'm surprised she wasn't at all hurt, we rolled quite a ways.
(The other pair were just on their last threads and split in two places from wear)

So yoga pants it is for now. And Saturday I'll give the rest of the cookies to Ryan when we visit him in St. Kitts.
Blah.

photo gift for The Englishman and the Polish Girl

The land of pastel bathrooms past!! (aka St Pierre Construction, 595 Exeter Road, London, ON circa 2003)

Birthday and Cupcakes!!

Friday we were off to Waterloo to celebrate Brian's birthday. I made him some extra yummy peanut butter cupcakes (a family favorite!). Megan made an AWESOME ice cream cake, I hope to copy some day. Chloe came along for the party, where everyone crashed on available couches and floor space. In the morning fantastic hair was had by all, most notably Sebastian and Adam. ("It's because we use product"-Sebastian)



Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350F
(makes 12 large cupcakes)

1 1/4 cup All Purpose Flour
1 cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
3/4 cup Milk
1/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 Egg
1 Tablespoon Butter Or Margarine
1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt


Combine all ingredients in a blender. Cover & blend at high speed for 45 seconds stopping once or twice to scrape down sides. Pour into lined muffin cups, filling about 2/3 full.
Bake 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool completely. Spread with frosting.


Peanut Butter Frosting

1 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
1/8 cup Softened Butter
1/8 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Tablespoon Milk

Combine all ingredients, beat until smooth.



Dave and Brian's friend Kevin falling asleep early at 10pm. We'll call it a nap, after snapping this photo we woke them both up for much more partying!


Sebastian and Brian


Adam's hair in the morning.


Sebastian in the morning.

my christmas list

so, I started a wist a while ago... and I've just thrown my christmas list onto it. I like my wist, it's fun to have pictures... alot of the wist is crafty stuff (crafted stuff or supplies), it's only been the last while I've added other stuff. It's funny because there isn't really anything I need.... just stuff I've been thinking about.

Here is my list for all the snoops (and santas) in my life!

my wist!!!

wanted: a dreidel

I had no idea how to play with a dreidel. I know the dreidel song (which I love)... but that's about it. This aft I was perusing mathastewart.com when I saw this little gem of a game explained. It's gambling. I LOVE IT.
I am sooooo finding myself a dreidel-and some money-so I can play. (Though Martha's buttons are also a good prize).

pre-loved

a list of pre-loved things I am grateful for;

1. china, fine china, bone china, porcelain. (teacup and saucer sets, lonely saucers, plates, bowls and servingware)
2. buttons & ribbons
3. hand embroidery (on cotton or linen)
4. hats
5. cameras
6. vintage fabrics (wool, linen, cotton prints, lace)
7. old wool sweaters (even especially ones that have shrunk)
8. metal cookie cutters
9. matched tupperware parts
10. lemon juicers (I'm dying for a pink depression glass one)

Kool-aid Dyeing!

I spent an afternoon last week dyeing fleece. I had never used Kool-aid to dye anthing other than hair before, but knew it'd work well. At school, I used acid dyes on protein fibres, Koolaid works very much in the same way, the difference is that it's NON-TOXIC and so I felt safe using it at home. Acid dyes are toxic in their powder form, and the liquid is not good to ingest, so while I am bound to dyeing in my kitchen I am opting for a safer alternative.

Dave bought me a big ugly enamel stock pot at Value Village, just for dyeing in. It's a great size (8-10L).

Without any further ado, here is my fleece experiment!


wetting down (water with a hint of soap)


look at all the fun packs I had to mix colours with!


draining the fleece, and measuring my vinegar (acid!!)


The pot as it simmered


checking for exhaustion of dyebath


yep, it's pretty exhausted, no more dye left in the water


Beginning colour #2


one packet of orange suspended in this much water, just so I could mix part with the green


Happy results drying!!

It's very easy to over process the wool and accidentally felt it. (You are using all the things that you'd normally do to felt it, heat, water, changing the pH and agitation) so I don't recommend it for people who don't understand the felting process.

AND. If you are on my christmas list, don't even think about any modifications you can do to this process for your own benefit. I am staking my claims here.

I wish I were Matt

wow, just wow.




www.wherethehellismatt.com

the most perfect dog EVER.

I was listening to some music on my computer, and started playing tha alkaholiks, when suddenly Chloe comes running from the other room, climbs onto my lap and no lie PUTS HER EAR TO THE SPEAKER. and here I thought she liked Del the best.



My 4.5lb poodle loves rap music.

how bad is this?

can I use these together??

dress done.

This dress was inspired from several things, dresses my sister and dear friend have, the 7-way wonder dress pattern my family has owned for ages and this thread on craftster (and subsequent tutorial in this blog) and a dress by Monif C.. I still hope to trim up the ties, they look a little bulky to me, but we are getting there.
so, I've just about finished my dress for the Holiday Party this weekend, but I have to figure out what I'll wear underneath it. It has an open back and NO SUPPORT.
Since I'm no Nicole Ritchie (gawd or Kelly Clarkson for that matter), I really am going to need to have proper fitting under-pieces to pull this off right.

Add you advices here.


I'm thinking low-slung side-bun for my hair, but I am going to grab my hot-rollers and see what happens. I've got gold shoes to wear. Haven't sorted out a purse yet. I believe we are cutting out early to drink elsewhere as our bestest work-with-dave friend is unhappy at work and wants us to party with him and his sweetie downtown after dinner and the raffle prizes are drawn....away from the workplace crowd.
(here's hoping we clean up with the prizes again this year!)

Monday's child is fair of face

Saturday brought the pleasure of a visit by our friends Alison and Gavin, who wanted to meet Chloe. We had tea and banana bread of which Dave only ate 2/3 of his slice because the bottom was dry. I had tried a new recipe and it cooked much better than the last, I'll try 10 minutes less next time.
Yesterday we went to Len's Mill to pick up fabric for my dress (this weekend is Dave's work Holiday party) and went fot a walk in the woods. It was really busy, many dogs and patchouli stink children (which should be against the law, seriously kids smell bad enough as it is). Chloe loved it though, despite being called "the smallest dog I've ever seen" at least 8 times by passing strangers with Retrievers or the kind of dog Lassie was.

On this particular trail there is a dam, which has probably seen better times... It's got a clog and is collapsing. I walked most of it, Dave jumped the last bit, but we decided to go home and I didn't try a jump with pup in my arms.







Now I have to sort out how not to look so pale in the legs for Saturday.