Riot and Frolic

It’s a Nice Day for a…

July 2, 2011

Billy Idol – White Wedding

Super congrats to my bro-ski, who is getting married to a super-cool gal in about three hours. I'm dying since I'm not there and keep wondering how I can get someone to stream it online. Maybe there's someone there who could hook me up via Skype… *crickets chirping*

I have a completely random post for you today. I was trying to get a theme going, but to no avail. Having finished my projects for the lovely wedding mentioned above, I feel a little scattered with no deadlines approaching. I even finished those darn Hunger Games books (they just got more and more sad; gee, thanks for the recommendations). I guess it's onto spray-painting stuff. That'll be for next week's episodes.

Onto the random!

This is my version of portion control.

In my mind, I was planning quite a feast of Nutella and grammies (graham crackers, not my beloved family member). Upon opening the box o' grahams, I found only two crackers left. Sad

My version of air conditioning.

Getting chilly water dumped on me by an enthusiastic three-year-old. Mae Cake? She seems to be doing research on the molecular makeup of water. She had that same look on her face for the hour we were outside. Concentrating.

New word of the day: spatchcock. Oh, dear, how I love this word. I was checking out the new Everyday Food summer edition and came across the word in a recipe for roasted chicken. It means to take the backbone out of a bird, thus making it quicker to roast, offering more skin for roastin' up, and just being a fun word to throw into your daily routine. "Oh, honey! Your spatchcocked chicken is ready!" Let me tell you, G will be hearing that phrase soon. I might also use it in other ways: "I really spatchcocked this up!" or "Spatchcock!"

It's G's birthday tomorrow and the festivities have begun…

IKEA is a fun trip. The ladies love rolling around on the beds and sofas and chairs. We're picking out bunk-beds for the ladies. This one was the winner. Can't wait. The V is actually in the picture, but is "hiding…" Because that makes for an effective picture.

We also hit up Snuffy's Malt Shop for burgers, fries, and fun. It was so good. I had a Snuffy Burger- bacon cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato- and it was literally perfect. The exact correct proportions of meat, cheese, bacon (because it's not just meat, it's bacon), bread, veggies. And the tomato? It was exactly what a tomato on a sandwich should be: cold, firm, but not under-ripe, juicy without dripping. And I don't even like tomatoes on sandwiches! French fries were crispy and potato-y and salty. And the malt was thick and flavorful and awesome.

Tonight is Birthday Dinner in Northeast somewhere. It doesn't really matter where, because it's Northeast. Northeast Mpls. rocks my world. We will move there someday. I mean, they're making a pierogi sculpture. All the restaurants are great, there's the river, parks, neat shops (I Like You is a fav), and it's pretty… Pretty neat!

And there you go.

Happy Fourth of July weekend!
Cool Down

June 30, 2011

With a forecast of 96 degrees and a heat index of 105 today (I don't understand any of those words or numbers), I thought I'd prepare some icy delights last night.

Many of you know, I am slightly obsessed with popsicles. Not so much the making of them, just really the eating of them. I bought a bag of those nifty freeze pops before my lonely weekend and they were gone in three days. I'll let you do the math on that one.

I don't have many cravings when I'm pregnant. But I do like icy beverages, ice-like desserts, icy fruit, or just plain ice. I would eat it non-stop if I could. Non-stop. Oooh, Frappuccino. You were my downfall on baby #1.

So, with an excuse of "saving money in the long run," I bought a few popsicle molds at good ol' Target and asked my ma for the recipe of those popsicles she always used to make when we were little. (But Ma had Tupperware popsicle molds! So fancy!)

Childhood Popsicles

Ingredients:

– one package Kool-Aid

– one package Jello

– 2/3 cup sugar

– 2 cups boiling water

– 2 cups cold water

Combine first three ingredients in a heat-safe bowl. Pour in boiling water and mix well to dissolve Jello. Then add 2 cups cold water. Fill popsicle molds.

Ta-da!

AND I also got this great idea from this cute website to make root beer float popsicles. Yum!

So excited. It's not too wrong to eat these before 8am, is it?
History Lesson

June 29, 2011

I made a ring pillow, or wedding ring cushion, for my bro-ski and his amazing fiance's wedding. This is one of the many things I never thought of while planning my own wedding. In fact, I was wondering why the ring pillow exists in a wedding at all.

I didn't find a great history on the piece. Basically, in Roman times, people would carry precious metals and stones to the emperors on cushions to present them the gifts. Also, when hauling royal crowns around, they were also placed on fancy pillows.

I did however find a massive amount of ring pillows to choose from, if you're in the market and don't have a crafty, non-sleeping sister to make one for you.

Are you part of the royal family? Maybe this elaborate ring bearer pillow is for you. For $350, Emici Bridal will make you a beautiful silk dupioni, silver leaf bead, and freshwater pearl cushion for your well-dressed 6-year-old's cousin's son to carry the rings you will wear for the rest of your life. Dang.

On the other hand, you could have FLORAL make you a snazzy ring pillow for your disco-themed wedding for $4.

Flowers are big, both literally and figuratively, in the ring pillow world. KZBRIDAL makes some fancy and low-key pretty pillows for your ring-bearing needs.

As far as I could gather, a ring bearer's cushion, or whatever you want to call it, is a hand-sized pillow, often with a strap on the back to facilitate non-droppage. Monograms or wedding dates are sometimes embroidered onto the fabric for a great keepsake effect. There's often a pair of ribbons to tie the rings securely onto the pillow and some sort of embellishment to make the ring bearer (if it's a young boy) feel just a little bit silly, but proud to be included nonetheless.

The ring bearer could also be your (hopefully well-trained) dog, which has become popular in the past couple years. Although human or canine, there should be some practice involved. Nerves and crowds make for interesting reactions in both species. Be prepared for something to happen if you're including small children or animals in your wedding.

My V was in our friends' wedding last year (at almost two years old). We practiced throwing flowers in our living-dining room for two days and she had some panache going into the ceremony. But apparently, chucking those petals both over her shoulder and, with gusto, at her feet was the winning action.

Oh. You want to know what I made? Gee, thanks. Check it out.

Those felt flowers? Soooo fun to make. Homemade Ginger has a great tutorial on how to make rolled felt flowers. Seriously easy and fun. I will make many much more of those.
List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

June 27, 2011

– a nap.

– realization that Mae Cake is the best popsicle eating partner. She slurps all the juice and I get all the ice. It's perfect for my pregnant, ice-loving self.

– an embarrassing number of popsicles consumed.

– one quilt.

– best lullaby ever. (You're one step closer to being featured on the "hot guy" section.)

Memo

– two seasons of Make It or Break It watched. It's so terrible, it's great. I do not recommend it. I only watch it.

– two fun group classes taught in a row, resulting in a sweaty and sore lady.

– the most hours I've actually worked (for my actual job) in three years.

– a quiet house.

– more True Blood season 3. I do think they have some handsome men on that show.

Nino Muñoz for People magazine
And the third day felt like a week again…

June 26, 2011
This will be my fourth day with no one else in my house. It's weird and boring.

G and the ladies went to visit my in-laws for the weekend. I couldn't bear the thought of driving the 12 hours to Ohio being so crazy-pregnant, but thought they should go and have some big-family fun: sports tournaments of all variety, arguing, watching Wimbledon, arguing, more sports, eating.

The gang seemed to have a good trip out there. But last night (day two), I got a call from a crying V saying she wanted me to come with and how she missed me. This morning, G got a call from a crying me saying how I was lonely. We're all OK now. No crying.

I keep thinking of an elbow [this links to a different song, but how much does this guy look like Ricky Gervais and sound like Peter Gabriel?] lyric: I miss your stupid face. I hate that I'm missing that G of mine. I mostly think of myself as quite independent, but his absence makes me realize how much I love him. Grr, what a rascal. Turns out I like having him around.

My bestie came over last night and seemed a little amazed at the amount of stuff I had gotten done. I realized that my time management skills are a little out of whack with no one around. Usually, I need to cram any activity into a small time window. Errands? Before G leaves for work, but after breakfast. Crafts? After I put the ladies up for a nap, but before they wake up. Blog? Before I fall asleep, yet after the ladies go to bed. But with nobody else's needs to be met, I just keep going on hyperactive mode.

I've spent approximately 20 hours on the quilt and it's almost done. I have run out of thread twice. It's that whole measuring thing. Although I do not like quilting, I do like binding. I'm nearing the end of that process now, so I should have a picture of the done-deal tomorrow.

Want to know what I learned about making a quilt? I would actually title this section

What I would do differently:
- cut different-sized rectangles for a more random look. Since I didn't measure or try to square everything up, I could have gone for an less exact look and had it be more awesome.
- I would press. *sigh.* Yep, I'd get that iron out and press some seams open.
- play with the color layout more. I like it, but might have tried to couple more combinations (done each stripe one color, or ombre'd the stripes or something).
- actually basted the "quilt sandwich" together. I pinned it a bit, but heard of something called "basting spray" which just speaks to all parts of me.
- cut a wider bias tape. I'd like to try hand-sewing it next time, but I really didn't have much slush room (AKA- room to screw up).
- buy lots of thread.
But hey, my first attempt ain't so bad.
Don’t Feel Bad, But…

June 25, 2011

…you just got your ass kicked by a pregnant lady. I've wanted to say this for a variety of reasons the last eight months, but I'll apply it to my craftiness today.

Yep. That quilt is all…quilted. It awaits the binding process because, to tell you the truth, I cannot stand to sit at the sewing machine anymore today. Quilting was not my favorite part of making a quilt. Ironic, huh?

My "process":

I decided early on that I wasn't going to put too much stock into measuring and pressing, like all quilting knowledge tells you to do. I had my general idea of design, combining the striped front of SouleMama's seemingly too-easy blanket and Posie Gets Cozy's amazing quilt back. I cut a zillion 4.5 x 10.5" rectangles. Way too many rectangles.

Sewed sewed sewed, then laid them out on my batting to take a guess at the solid stripe width. The winning measurement for those was 3.5".

Sew sew sew. Then cut top and bottom white stripes [random music video link] to fit.

Sew sew sew. Sleep. Wake up to searing back cramp from non-ergonomic sewing position. Piece together quilt back from not-quite-long enough muslin that's remaining and add a cute little stripe .

Sew sew sew. Start quilting. Swear quite a lot. Discover dislike of quilting. So much fabric to handle! Take break to make bias binding. Neat! (Here's a great tutorial on how to make your own bias tape, plus her website is phenom[enal].) Give in to using an iron. Go back to quilting and swearing.

Sew sew sew. Give up for today.

BIG THANK YOU to my dearest friend, Cathy, for her emergency thread delivery! Plus, we got to chat and I don't get to see her to often because we're both crazy. Or busy. Or crazy busy. Something like that. Anyways, it was way up and above the call of duty and totally awesome of her.

I'm listening to elbow. You haven't heard of them? Check out "One Day Like This" on the playlist. Who-ah. They're great. AND having just looked up their website for the link, I highly recommend checking out their site. Play with that first page you get. Fun.

Tomorrow: lessons learned about making a quilt, and Navin Johnson.

Photo by Mel Traxel
Gone, Baby, Gone

June 24, 2011

With the ladies and G gone for the weekend, my days are filled with non-stop sewing. No, that's not true. I stopped to eat popsicles. Lots and lots of popsicles.

But look! The front is all sewn together.

So is the back!

I started actually quilting (apparently this is the process of sewing the front, batting, and back together), only to run out of thread. Where is the closest fabric store? Big Mama has to fetch her bike tomorrow and make a thread run. Grrr. I was just at the fabric store today with my ma!

Notice the rounded corners on this page? Ooo, how I love computer code. I also cleared out my porch of the unassembled IKEA cabinets that my kitchen has been patiently waiting for for two years and, oh yes, ate a lot of popsicles. Those cabinets? Now in the basement. Not hanging on my kitchen walls or anything. Sigh. I'm going to set up a little breakfast nook out on the porch. Pictures to follow.
Ready, Set…

June 23, 2011

GO!

Yes, the quilt front is 98% sewn together. There's a strip at the top that's hanging loose until morning. About an hour ago, I could not focus my eyes anymore, so I think I'm maxed out for the day. After 10 hours, mind you.

Tomorrow I need to head out for some more muslin for the backing and to figure out what I'm going to use for binding. I have a huge pile of rectangles left, which was a surprise to me. I thought I was going to run out! Throw pillows for everyone!

Here's the process from today:

This is a queen-size?! Dear Lord. Okay. (Picture of batting taken from nearly the ceiling.)

Laying out the stripes. I'm not sure any of them stayed in this order once I started sewing.

Sewing rectangles together while watching Make It or Break It. Gymnastics. ABC Family channel. Our dirty little secret.

Look, ma! I've gotten smarter! Sewing in succession!

Stripes complete! Time for background!

Return to GO! Collect your $200 (not from me; I'm broke).

I miss my fam. But as you can see, lots will be accomplished.

Image: Vanity Fair Italy
Things to Get Excited About

June 22, 2011

I would suggest not overlapping the multimedia links I'll present here. That might make you loopy.

– I'm pretty sure I mention my excitement for the new Muppet movie every time I teach a group class. So, ye of the Saturday noon class are well-aware of its existence. You might also be aware of my likeness to a Muppet while teaching group classes. Somewhere between Fozzie Bear and Animal, you learn a Waltz pattern or two. Anyhoo, there will be a field trip this Thanksgiving to screen this most wonderful film. Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall [funniest song EVER in this link])) is in the flick, and he's pretty much the best. Even so, I try to keep my expectations low with any movie. But THE MUPPETS!

– I heard this song after work yesterday. It's great. It's long. It makes me want to stick my arm out the window while driving and air-surf with my hand. Also, this album has a song called "Minnesota, WI." And that's funny. Way to go, Bon Iver [sounds like "Bonnie Vair"].

03 Holocene

– This article just made me laugh when I saw the headline: Rent-a-Goat. (Image: Rent-A-Ruminant) It's a fun idea, so thanks to Re-Nest for its random coverage of all things Home.

– G and the ladies are taking off the weekend. The fact that they're leaving (and doing something fun) is not the exciting part. The exciting part is that I'll get many projects and much work done while they are away. I'll probably also give in to my natural desire to hide in the basement whenever there is a thunderstorm (how many days in a row have we had them now?) since I don't have to brave wife/mama with no one else around. Neat.

Here is the latest progress on the quilt (project #1). It's all cut and ready for piecing together! There's even scraps for test runs!

– The Hunger Games. *Sigh* I'm on Book Two. I do not know how they could be in the "teen fiction" section. They are like Kevin Garnett… Dark.

(Image: NBA.com)

– the word "eleventy." I came across it on a woman's blog awhile ago and thought it was hilarious. I love making up words and this woman had made up "eleventy"?… and was very funny to boot. Now, of course, this was before I discovered Pinterest, so I'm sure I will never find her charming blog again, but after looking the word up via Google, it only got better.

– Men With Scruff. Absolutely brill. Thanks for pic.
Not the Sharpest Tool in the Shed

June 21, 2011

Keep out of reach of children, they say. Keep the blade cover on, they say. Can cut through layers of fabric, they say. Sharp and dangerous, they say.

Imagine my surprise when I go to use a rotary cutter for the first time and it's not cutting through my cotton like a hot knife through butter. More like a rusty saw through mahogany (because rusty saws aren't very sharp and mahogany is very dense- I always like it when people explain their jokes). But I'm persistent to the point of stupidity, so I keep making these terribly jagged, uneven cuts. Note: there is a new blade sitting right next to me.

After making one small pile of strips (who am I kidding, it was a large pile), I decide maybe it is just an old blade, not my technique or lack of ability, and I should replace it with that ever-so-convenient one sitting beside me. And lo and behold, this one could cut a person's finger in half. (Sorry, Hugh.)

Makes me wonder how much fabric my bestie was cutting before she lent me her quilting supplies… I haven't seen any quilts from her… Maybe she's quilting undies… One never knows.

Mae Cake, you're soooo helpful.

On a random note, have you had any pineapple lately? It's getting a little late in the season for fantastic pineapple, but you can still find really good deals on a fresh one and they are like candy when they are ripe.

I bought my first pineapple earlier this spring in my "I read this is supposed to be good" way of things (see: tart cherry juice). I got it home and stared at it. How the hell do you cut this spiky thing?

Let me show you:

Start with a pineapple… Ooo! Wouldn't you like to know how to choose one first? Here's my method: smell the non-leafy end. Does it smell good and maybe like pineapple? It is ripe. I hear you can tug on a leaf and if it comes out easily, that also means it is ripe. That's more subtle. So, anyhow, you got a pineapple…

Get your sharpest knife. Chop off the leafy and non-leafy ends.

Stand up your fruit and cut off the spiky-ness. I try to cut enough off so there's no brown little knots left in my fruit, but you can dig those out with a spoon or tomato corer if you're picky.

Lay your pineapple back down on its side and slice it.

Now cut pieces away from the core. Voila!

This might not the most uniform way to do it, but I like it and it's fast. Plus, my little ladies eat it as fast as I cut it, so it doesn't last long enough to need to be pretty.

What's your favorite fruit? And how do you prepare it?

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