Currently: March 27, 2003
So..have you tried this Pepper Vodka Absolut Peppar? Was this stuff developed just for Bloody Marys*? I had one this weekend at a Burger Joint in La Jolla and let me tell you. It was good. I really like Bloody Marys and it is fascinating to see the differences in how they are prepared and garnished from place to place. For instance I had a Bloody Mary once that was garnished with hot pickled string beans. I thought that was creative and different. Except...don't make my Bloody Mary too hot or then I won't like it. Or you. When I ordered the Bloody Mary this weekend the bartender said: "May I interest you in trying it with Absolute puh-par?" Absolutely. I also had a burger with BBQ sauce and bacon and cheese. It was one of those situations where my mouth was in love and my stomach was like "Oh God." It was worth it. I wish I had one right now in fact.
* I have since learned that there are several recipes for various drinks on the Absolut site (after you sit through all of it's flash crap) that have names like "Lava", "Devil", or "Hot Tamale" that sound fairly gross to me.
This week included J's last day of work, where some very thoughtful and kind coworkers of his gave him two cookbooks. Nigella Lawson's How To Eat, and The Sweet Potato Queens' Big Ass Cookbook and Financial Planner. I am currently looking at How to Eat, and have only thumbed through the Big Ass Queens where I came across a recipe called "Bitch Meatballs with Sexy Red Sauce". Is that a recipe or what? I also like this one: "Corn and Peppers with Enhanced Fat Content." Enhanced Fat Content. I think I am going to like this book.
Many thanks to those of you who wrote to reccomend Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials. I have purchase the trilogy and am planning on starting it this weekend.
I read a great article from You Grow Girl on Lawns to Gardens this weekend which reminded me very much of a house I saw in Santa Cruz. It had an enormous, blooming, beautiful garden in the front yard and it was pure magic compared to the rest of the houses on the block. It was in front of this house we met a very nice one eared cat named Vincent who would let you rub him and pet him, and then run after you meowing ferociously when you would try to leave. I really like the Lawn to Garden idea and in particular this quote: "ItŐs no secret that the lawn is an iconic image for the middle class capitalist world-view." I have to be honest and say I really don't know what that means but it cracks me up. I have to be honest one more time and say that I don't know why it cracks me up...it just does.
And since I am on the topic of lawns these days..I saw a disturbing commercial for Tru Green Chem Lawns. The name alone scares the shit out me. It sounds like something out of the Simpsons. I was watching the commercial thinking: I bet they had some graphic guy messing with the color...you know "Can you make it, like, look really green?"
So in conclusion,...someday if you are walking in front of a house that has a kick-ass garden in the front yard and the only lawn you see is in the shape of living room furniture...it 's probably me.
Happy Friday! Happy Vernal Equinox! Happy Birthday to Loobylu and anyone else who's birthday it is today!
So....I got the latest issue of Ready Made in the mail the other day and was shocked and horrified to see that they stole an idea that I had stolen from an article about a MOMA product. The grass couch. MOMA was selling a grass chair kit that I can't seem to find, but it was pretty cool. I had visions and fantasies of creating a grass living room whenever I moved into a house that would be conducive to such a creation. I am not actually shocked and horrified at the Ready Made article, I am pretty excited that I have clear instructions on how to create such a lawn-ish monstrosity.
Is anyone familiar with Philip Pullman and His Dark Materials Trilogy? I am thinking that will be the next thing I read whenever things settle down after the move.
Somehow this weekend I got sucked into SciFi Channel's Children of Dune. Don't ask me how...all I know is that after sitting for close to 6 hours in front of the TV watching SciFi's remake of Dune I was primed and ready for it's sequel. Sad. Now I am thinking that I need to rent the original Dune. I have seen it, but it's been a long time.
I have not been spending ALL of my time in front of the TV. I have completed, or at least mostly completed three new illustrations. Here, here and here. I am also thinking, once the move commences of perhaps becoming powered by Movable Type. I am getting very excited to move! Hopefully by this time next month we'll be on our way.
Yesterday the UPS man brought my clear storage boxes from The Container Store and I spent several satisfying hours organizing all of my crafting supplies. Fabric, buttons, beads, essential oils, my sewing box..all of that stuff. It was so satisfying. I now want to put everything into clear plastic boxes. I think the next thing to tackle is the under sink areas of the kitchen and bathroom. I think the is the only part of moving that I like is the process of throwing shit away. I like the purging of the old and streamlining one's life so you arrive at your new destination orderly and clean and ready to start the "acquiring of crap" process all over again.
I love how cleaning has become so hip lately. Caldrea, all of the Restoration Hardware Stuff, Mrs. Meyers, The Method Stuff, and now Casabella. I saw this stuff in the April issue of Lucky.
Check out these fabric note cards by Fragile by Krista. Very cool idea. They would go great with Keri Smith's fabric covered envelopes don't you think? I especially like the stitching around the edge.
I also really like this idea..the bath candies. There is a great picture of them in April's Lucky Magazine (page 134). Such cute packaging. This site has frames, so click on the "Lucky Special" on the left.
I love love love what Jenny did with her foyer and mudroom. I want to paint something that lovely dark red. I love that color. I also love using the word love.
Suzie Q posted that Ikea now sells fabric by the yard! I just realized I posted this without finishing the sentence or linking! Yay Erica! I wonder if all Ikeas sell fabric or if it's just the new ones?
Last night we went to see Chicago and I almost made a fool of myself during the previews. It took all the self control I could muster to maintain my composure and contain the utter delight I felt when I saw the trailer for A Mighty Wind. I wanted to scream I was so happy. I have been waiting for this movie for what seems like an eternity. I heart Christopher Guest. I am getting giddy just thinking about it. All of the best people from Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show are in it. CAN'T WAIT.
I finally bought a washboard to do felt work from Halcyon Yarn. I also picked up a pattern book on making felted flowers. There is an article (page 191) in this months Elle about a designer named Maria Rudman who employs craftswomen from the Sami tribe in Lapland to make jewelry and such. The "such" being amazing felted scarves.
I am a big fan of Costco. Imagine my delight when I saw in the March issue of Food and Wine, a whole article with recipes devoted to Costco: The Costco Challenge. I am especially drooling over the Ricotta Tart with Honey-Thyme Glaze and Pine Nut Crust. It has ricotta, cream cheese, mascarpone, and creme fraiche. I am a big fan of cheese.
This site has containers and bottles, and something I find REALLY intriguing if one were to start their own toiletries line is the fact that they will print or silk-screen your custom graphics on said bottles or jars. I had always thought if I were to do something like this I would get labels or stickers printed. Nice to know that one has options.