Totally Busy

I'm totally busy. Are you? WTF...? These shoes scare me. These are ankle-breakers fo sho!

I Want It!

Because I am about as mature as a 12 year old boy, you can garuntee this marshmallow gun will be on my Santa list! Awesome.

Great Inventions

I was in the store the other day and wandered into the toy aisle to start getting excited about all the toys I want to get baby J for Christmas.  Awesomest re-design of a classic toy: The Self-Inflating Whoopee Cushion!!!!  No longer do you have to stop your prankster ways and fill the balloon up with air!  We all know how annoying that is.  Having to do so can make or break the joke.  I surprised myself by not buying it on the spot.

The bastards at Snuggie have now "invented" a Snuggie for Dogs.  I want to hurt those idiots.  And what is with the picture of the poodle just chillin in front of the TV like it's normal for a dog to be holding a remote and eating popcorn!  Why not do the picture right and put a bottle of beer in the animal's empty paw!?  Seriously?  Seriously.

p.s.  I know my dog wears clothes, but for a real reason.

So Sweet:Magpie Lovely

Bird with Cream Berries

Happy Hedgehog Berries

Ivory Cowl

Such sweet gift ideas from Magpie Lovely. I want to make them all:)

I Need to Live Here

Thank you Alana for this link for Pumpkin Pasta! Sounds delish!! But more important than that... I probably need to move so I can live in these photos! This place is a dream!

Images found here

Yes, Please

Why didn't I think of this?  I love Snickers. and chocolate and caramel and apples....

Cranberry Pumpkin Cookies

                                                          

We cooked down our pumpkins and now have a freezer full of puree.  The first thing I made were these Cranberry Pumpkin Cookies.  I've never used fresh cranberry in a cookie before, it's always been craisins for me.  The cranberry is nice and tart next to the pumpkin flavor.  I melted down some chocolate chips and drizzled it over the cookies.  Very yummy!

                                                                     

The next item up to be baked is the most delicious pumpkin bread EVER!  Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread.  Try it.  It doesn't disappoint.  Do you have any pumpkin recipes I have to try?  I want to try a pasta with pumpkin...

Ethiopian Airlines

I got an email from Ethiopian Airlines today. I know what you are thinking, because I thought it too... Ethiopia has an airline? When you were a kid and you didn't want to finish your dinner, didn't your mom say, " There are starving children in Ethiopia that would be grateful for this food."? Didn't those comments paint a picture of what Ethiopia must be like? A poverty-stricken, third world country? I had those same thoughts (judgements) when some friends wanted to go out to an Ethiopian restaurant in NYC. We joked that we didn't know Ethiopia even had food to call their own. So thoughtless! BTW, the food was delicious (going in)! It was basically a large platter with several different hummus-like pastes you ate with pita. All vegan.  Pat and I both had the hershey squirts for a few days after.

Anyway, I learned from my email that Ethiopian Olympian, Derartu Tulu, became the first woman from Ethiopia to win the New York City Marathon when she crossed the finish line with a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 52 seconds. Wow and wow.

Food, Inc.

Check out the trailer for Food, Inc.

My Thoughts Lately

A couple of nights ago, Patrick and I watched Food, Inc. About 15 minutes in, I was in tears. I was so angry I was crying! Let's just say that ignorance is NOT always bliss. Knowledge is power and I want to know more! I am disgusted and infuriated with the corporations who are disrespecting animals, farmers & workers, the environment and ME. I've come to the conclusion that in order to protect my family, I am going to have to become a farmer. I don't want my children eating all the disgusting things that are so common in the grocery store. What a dream it would be if everything that I put on my table was the result of my own labor, literally! While that isn't exactly feesible at the moment, I plan to plant a small backyard garden, shop farmer's markets, and buy organic on all I can.

So, my question... Do any of you know anyone who raises cows, pigs, chickens naturally and respectfully, that sells the meats, milk and eggs. I want to support local farmers or gardeners and am willing to pay the little extra it takes.

Hungry for Change has a blog and a suggested reading list. I have been wanting to read Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food for some time now and just ordered it from Amazon. Have you read it? Mr. Pollan is interviewed throughout the movie giving insight into how we can change our eating habits and health.

Please watch this movie! "You will never look at dinner the same again!" Oh, so true!!

Deer Strategy

Who actually takes the time to stitch this!!!!!!   I'm LOLing!  Seen on Zoetropa.

The Nutcracker

I had a friend recently email me  with questions about what to do and see when she goes to New York in December.  Oh the jealousy!!  December is a magical time in the city!  There are so many lovely and beautiful things to do and see!  

As I got thinking about what to tell her, I had memories of going to The New York City Ballet's performance of The Nutcracker.  Sigh.  That night was truly one of my most favorite nights in the city.  Although, I am a sucka for ballet.  The dancing was incredible, the costumes and set were fabulous and the music was phenomenal.  But, I think it was the theater itself that really did it for me.  To be sitting up on the first balcony in such a famous building, surrounded by red velvet, staring down at all the formal gowns, jewels and tuxedos of the rich was delightful eye candy!  And all the children in their best dresses.  I swear it was so cliche!  I tried to avert my eyes from the tennis-shoe, fanny-pack, camera-happy, tired tourists so they couldn't ruin the general splendor.

Anyway, George Balanchine's The Nutcracker should be on everyone's "see before I die" list.  I think.

Book Wreath

                                   

Seen on Craftig: this darling book wreath.  I love this idea and totally want to make one.  Unfortunately I don't really have anywhere to put it at the time being.  And I am totally NOT a wreath kinda gal.  But I could be.

The tutorial comes from Living with Lindsay. You could totally use this idea with sheet music, too.  That would be kinda cool.