I recently wrote about tracking the sun for my new garden plot and I whipped up this little graphic on a whim. It was a really good whim in a lot of ways. I’ve been feeling really unsure and uninspired regarding anything art related. I think I lost track of the feeling of creating because it makes me happy because I’ve been so caught up in the idea of trying to figure out how to make money creating – and not being able to bring myself to even start. A friend once told me something along the lines of “If you do something just for the money, then that’s all you’ll get.” Meaning no joy or fulfillment. I think unconsciously I knew that and was stopping myself by forming some sort of “writer’s block”.
It’s a small start, and a great reminder. No art related goals for 2012 other than to relax, quit pressuring myself, and only do things because I want to, not because I think I have to.
Jan
08 |
1)Insanely expensive Dwell Studio Sheets 2)Tattooed Men by Mimi Kirchner 3)Dying of cute 4)Rugs USA 5)Apartment Therapy 6)Tattooed Man Doll by The Black Apple
I’ve started off the new year with a nasty cold so the only thing it seems like I have been doing is sleeping. In between naps I’ve been trying to keep myself busy with *something* and that something has been deciding what to do about our bedroom. This year I’ve decided that I want to make some major progress on the home front, instead of being lazy about it as per usual so it’s been on my mind a lot lately. We made the decision last year that we would swap bedroom locations from its current location downstairs to the extremely large and spacious suite-like room we have upstairs.
Take a look at this post on Making it Lovely about redecorating a reader’s bedroom as our room upstairs is almost identical in terms of layout…mainly the sloped ceiling wall along one the side of the room. Here’s the finished room. Nice! I showed it to Jefe and he loved all of the black, and blue color on the walls so that’s where I started. I pulled the images from stuff I have pinned on my Pinterest boards. I don’t know what’s up with the tattooed men…something about them tickles my fancy. AND they match the color scheme!
Jan
06 |
Jefe and I spent our New Years Eve recording our drunken ramblings future podcast on tasting Rose Sparkling Wines. The winner being from Germany of all places (audio and a new website to follow!). Jefe also made an AWESOME Lobster Mac and Cheese, which I captured with my new iPhone. That little camera totally rocks – major 2011 accomplishment right there.
I’ve also been thinking a lot about my resolutions for 2012 and I had to go back and remind myself what I wanted to accomplish in 2011. Building the fence was a major item and I am so glad we managed to get that done. In fact gardening has been so much on my mind lately that I’ve decided to start a new blog specifically devoted to creating my new garden. The seed catalogs are starting to arrive and I’ve been cultivating a ton of garden ideas on Pinterest so I am raring to go.
I didn’t sew nearly as much as I wanted to, and aside from gardening, sewing is a topic that takes up a lot of my mind space. My pattern collection is growing a long with my stash and I really hope to make some beautiful clothes this year.
I want to focus on continuing to spruce up the house this year and am looking forward to more craft/arty projects to help that process along.
I didn’t really do any canning like I planned. I made a dandelion jam, which I have yet to try, but that was about it. So again, this year – Canning!
I want to learn how to forage, mainly huckleberries and chanterelles. I know a lot of people who forage, and they guard their secret spots like crazy so I am thinking that I need to take a class or something.
I need to get out more. While my parents were visiting us this Christmas we took a little drive out to Boston Harbor Marina and Burfoot Park, both of which are about 15-20 minutes from our house but seem like a million miles away. It made me wonder why I don’t go out there more. There are a ton of beautiful little places like this around Olympia, and I need to be better about leaving my cozy little home and exploring the world.
I know that 2011 was a really crummy year for a lot of people. I am blessed that I managed to escape the tragedy and trauma a lot of my friends experienced, so here’s hoping that 2012 will be better for us all.
Jan
01 |
I collect marshmallow recipes and when I came across a recipe on The Kitchn for Chocoloate Covered Beer Marshmallows I knew I had this year’s holiday treat. I’ve noticed that not everyone is as excited about these as I am, and when you say “beer marshmallows” the reactions are usually a variation on a scrunchy face. So how do they taste? Awesome. Not like beer at all, and I think that has to do with the kind of beer I used, which was Young’s Double Chocolate Stout. This is HOLY COW good beer. I don’t even like beer really, and this beer is SO GOOD. CAPS-ON good.
If you are thinking about making these, here are some tips for you that I would do differently next time:
- Actually read the recipe and use milk chocolate, not dark. The dark totally overwhelms the marshmallow flavor.
- Don’t get all fancy and try to create a pretzel crust that won’t hold and will turn into crumbles when you cut the marshmallows.
- Use less gelatin, or try Alton Brown’s Marshmallow recipe. I felt like these marshmallows were just a tad chewy.
I’m going to take some of these to work to prove to my fellow coworkers that I am not crazy, and then save some for my mother to do the same. They are definitely not an everyday kind of treat and they would be a great gift for the beer lover in your life.
Dec
20 |
Jefe and I have finally joined the 21st century and decided to get iPhones. One of the first things I did was download the Instagram app. Now I just HAVE to have the Photojojo lenses as well. Santa? You listening?
And of course there is the question of the case. What kind of case should I get? The cross stitch cover? I am actually leaning to something more along the lines of this Kate Spade polka dot cover. Too many choices!
Dec
18 |
