August 29, 2010

Foodie

While my parents were on vacation I had the very wonderful pleasure of cooking dinner for myself each night (also because I was broke). This is one thing I made the first night they were gone. It was incredibly yummy! So I thought I'd share. It was super easy to make and took about a half and hour total. So, tie on your apron and let's get cracking!

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You'll need pre-marinated chicken. I tossed some white wine, garlic, onion powder, parsley, and oregano in a ziplock bag and let the chicken sit over night. Cut the chicken into cubes and set aside.

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Get out a frying pan and dollop some butter or olive oil to cover the whole pan. Toss in come chopped garlic cloves.

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Add the chicken to the pan and stir occasionally.

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Get a small pot and fill with milk/cream. Add come crushed garlic, salt (if your family happens to leave you any while they are on vacation, which mine did not), pepper, and parsley. Stir. Grab a handful of mozzarella cheese and add to the mix. Stir occasionally until the cheese melts.

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Once your chicken has been fully cooked and slightly browned, add veggies. I used carrots, snap peas, corn, and my favourite, lima beans, but you can use anything you have on hand. Cook until the veggies are tender.

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Your sauce should be all melted by now. Stir to make sure, then add to your veggies and chicken.

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Let the sauce come to a small boil, then turn off the heat. You're now ready to serve!

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It's particularly yummy over noodles or rice, but I was too lazy to cook either, so I ate it plain. Either way it's super delicious and easy! Enjoy!

August 28, 2010

Pretty Projects

This is probably a little late in the summer to be making flower crowns, but I finally procured all the necessary items and finally sat down to make me some pretty little hair things. I actually made these last Sunday. They were super simple to make and so very pretty to wear. Of course the first one is a little bit weird to wear out in public, but I'm trying to get used to it. I actually wore it out all day on my Birthday. Because if there is any day that a girl can prance around wearing a crown of flowers, it's her birthday.

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This is the other one I made, which is far less obtrusive. I really love how dainty it came out. This one I can wear like a headband, but looks equally pretty as a crown.

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August 27, 2010

A Knitted Hasbeen

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Dress- Vintage
Shoes- Swedish Hasbeens, gift from my parents!
Sunnies- Modcloth


Sometime mid June I woke up at 3 am and decided to learn to knit. This is a true story. It took me about a week to figure out how to cast on. It took me two weeks to knit two rows (granted my knitting time was about five minutes per rehearsal which adds up to about 20 mins. per week). Then I abandoned my knitting. And there is sat on my headboard until last weekend when I thought, "I should really at least try to finish the scarf..." So I picked up my knitting and have now become a total addict. I love it. I've even begun Christmas gifts (I know!). I want to do nothing with my life but knit. Preferably in an old cottage by the Irish Sea where I will make homemade clam chowder (which I did a week ago and forgot to take pictures of, which of course means I have to do it again so I can show you how incredibly easy it is!), and sip copious amounts of coffee as I knit my lobster man husband yet another cable knit sweater with our three redhead daughters. It's a plan I'm working on.

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But that is not the point of the post (however I would kill right now for some gloomy Irish Sea weather. sigh...). The point of this post is my new shoesies. You see I have wanted a pair of these bad boys for, like, ever. They are a combination of the totally awesome Hannah Andersen clogs I had as a kid, and the ubiquitous saltwaters that seemed to be the kids shoes of choice for my parents (we got two pair every summer. One white, one fun colour. Except Ashley never got red or navy ones even though she really wanted red or navy ones. And guess who's parents bought her five year old sister BOTH red and navy ones this summer? Life just ain't fair.). Plus I have a slight obsession with all things Scandinavian. Plus they're flipping adorable. I have searched high and low for a pair for cheap, because I am cheap and did not really want to dish out $200 for a pair of shoes, regardless of how utterly perfect they are.

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Well someone had a Birthday on the 24th and went down to San Diego and got some Ben and Jerry's (btw Bonnaroo Buzz Might be my new favourite thing on earth) and was handed a big bag. Inside were these beauties. They are perfect in case you are wondering. They have not come off my feet since Tuesday night because, yes I wore them the rest of the night (and I may have been given a hint as the their purchase, and I may have made sure my outfit matched them... maybe...). They are ridiculously comfortable, painfully cute, and oh there's the little fact that they match nearly my entire wardrobe. get used to their presence, you will see them alot.

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I fully intended to keep this post short, but I thought I'd touch on something else about this ensemble (I had to resist the urge to italicize that and pronounce it in a French accent in my head. This post is going nowhere. I think it's the heat.). This is a dress that is very dear to me. I bought it is 2008 and it was the first vintage dress I'd bought in.....10 years...? It was the dress that got me back into vintage clothes (after a bad bought of jeansandhoodieandflipflopitis). I love this dress. I tailored it to fit better, I will never get rid of it, and yet I almost never wear it (I think it's made all of two prior appearances on this blog). There's something a little too 80's for me about it, and I think that's why I tend to steer clear of it, but it really does have a very nice and flattering silhouette. And the print is so much fun and so cheery, so I really have no idea why I never wear it. I think that needs to change. Does anyone else have those clothes? The ones you really, really love, but for some reason never wear? Or am I just a nutter?

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In other news the weather has cooled down a bit. And by a bit I mean enough to make me stop acting like a cranky baby. I cried yesterday. I also couldn't step outside without becoming a new shade of pink. It was just delightful. (<--- this is sarcasm.) It has also cooled down enough that I can now resume drinking coffee, which has relieved the massive headache I've had. Oh and I joined Ravelry. Let's be friends. I think I need more coffee. Oh yeah, and by the way, I'm growing out my bangs again. We'll see how long this lasts...

August 26, 2010

I'm Melting, I'm Melting!


My brain has melted from the hotter then hell heat we're experiencing. Over a solid week of 110 as killed my ability to for a sentance with any meaning. If I drink another glass of water, I'm going to scream. Be back when I can think... Anf cross your fingers this rain actually comes...

August 17, 2010

Hermit-ess

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Dress- Made by me
Shoes- Target

We had a heatwave hit us this week. It's our normal temps for August but since we've had such a marvellously mild summer this year, it's absolutely miserable right now. My birthday is a week from today and I'm having a little get-together tonight (I have a few friends who leave for school this weekend). We're supposed to swim and BBQ, but it's so bloody hot that We may end up just laying on the floor of my air conditioned house and groaning about how bloody hot it is.

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My parents left for vacation on Saturday and I stayed behind to house sit, which I define as "Become a hermit-ess and watch On The Road With Austin And Santino until you have to have a mini break down from the fact that your only companion, and the only living thing you've seen all week, is your psychotic, escape artist dog who has a penchant for howling at rocks and escaping from the back yard somehow. and who is currently barking her head off anything that passes in front of the house." I'm very glad to be having people over tonight.

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(This would be that psychotic dog, who also thought my tripod was an evil being and tried to bite it...)
That's not to say I haven't enjoyed being home alone. I have. I've gotten so much done including the above dress. But I'm a very sociable person. I need noise, and people, and movement around me pretty much 24/7, and psycho dog isn't cutting it. But the whole point of this post is the dress. Remember this one? The one that I was going to have a gaggle of by the end of summer. Well I've got three (the other one was this disaster), and I think this is my favourite. I'm having some fit issues with the neckline and haven't quite figured out how to remedy it yet. So for this one I simply gathered it and I actually quite like it! Also, why have I not discovered bias tape for finishing before? I HATE finishing neck lines and arm holes. I also hate hemming. But I do not mind using bias tape. Also I really, really love the grey with this dark rosy fabric. Which by the by do your recognize it? Funny story. I thrifted that other tunic-y thing but it was originally from Target. I love the print but not so much the style. So I went to Joanns', maybe three days later, and they had a bolt of the same fabric in this rosy-maroony-mauvey colour. So I bought all they had in the store. I was very happy. and I still have enough fabric for a whole other dress.

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I have much to do and very little motivation to do it . And the psychopathic dog is now freaking out because there are city workers trimming a tree in front of our house. I should probably go reassure her that they are not going to hurt her damn rock.

August 13, 2010

Things That Make Me Smile Pt. 2

I used to feel really weird wearing brooches (broochs? broochs'?). I loved the idea of them, but never really felt like I could pull them off. I don't even remember when I finally started wearing them, but I now love them! I wear one nearly every day! They are the perfect thing to finish off an outfit. Over the past few years I have accumulated quite a collection and it makes me incredibly happy!

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yeah, it's kind of an obsession...

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Pink- Vintage, came with a shirt I got rid of, Star- from a little thrift shop, Circular- stole it from my sister, Bouquet- Pilgrim Place 2 yrs ago (has matching earrings!), Gold Dress Clip- Gift from Chelsea, Yellow Flower- Gift from my mom and dad from Magpie vintage in Portland, Pearl- Pilgrim Place, Flower w/ stem- Pilgrim Place

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Small Cameo- Belgoned to my great-great grandmother (don't tell my mom I have it! When she bits the dust, I get it anyways ;-)), Artemis Cameo- Pilgrim Place?, Butterfly- thrifted, Military-ish one- Thrifted, Yellow Scotty Dog- Free from an antique shop a rarely go to, pearly scotty dog- from a giant bag of broken jewelry from my favourite thrift store, Silver drop- tiny thrift shop, Golfing Girl- tiny thrift shop, Brass fancy one- grab bag of broken jewelry ( most of it wasn't actually broekn, just in need of some TLC)

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These were all souvineers from my trip to the UK and Ireland. Bear- Ailwee Caves, Ireland, Thatched house & Welsh Flag- St. Fagans National History Museum, Wales, Roman Baths- Roman Baths, Bath, England, Shakespeare pins- Shakespeare House, Stratford upon Avon, "Barrett"- My family's crest (which looks like some sort of test grid), somewhere in Ireland, I don't remember though, St. Paul's Cathedral- St. Paul's Cathedral, London (there is something very comical to me that St Paul's cathedral has a website.)

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All these were thrifted from various places.

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These are the two sweater clips I've found. The first one is a crown and sheild with sword and staff, the other is just simple pearls.
And that is my collection of pins, brooches (?), and clips!

August 12, 2010

Morbid?

I'm sitting at a coffee shop getting ready to play their open mic night. I love technology. (but not as much as you, you see)


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I have always had a weird fascination with cemeteries. I don't think it's weird at all. I mean first off some old cemeteries are absolutely beautiful, and secondly every cemetery I have visited is like an odd, somewhat morbid time capsule. Being a lover of things old, there is something strangely magical about these places. Maybe I'm nuts, but I think Cemeteries are really very beautiful.

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This cemetery is the oldest one in town. it dates back to the 1800 back when Riverside was a wee little orange grove colony. When I was in high school I used to walk from my house down to there and write down all the funny or beautiful names from the headstones (I have another odd fascination with names). Some of these names ended up becoming characters in stories I wrote, while others have been filed away for possible future children (Octavian I'm looking at you). Today I was driving by and saw that the landscaping crew forgot to lock the gate (it closed at 5) so I took the opportunity to snap a few photos. They crypt is my favourite part. It makes me think of all sorts of really wonderful old English mysteries. So I hope I don't creep any of you out with these photos!!

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Edit:
Because I am an idiot I forgot to give y'all the outfits stats and I even had a small little chat about this particular one. One the plus side I played really well tonight.
This "dress" is actually a nightgown I found at a new thrift store in town (local peeps it's on the corner of 14th and Park? (I think) right after the 91 freeway underpass where that old Mexican Bread shop used to be.). It cost me 1$. I had originally planned on shortening it to this length, but I think I kind of like the blouse-y thing. It's my take on Edwardian-does-Hippie. Also my bag came from the same store. When I was in high school I was mildly obsessed with military inspired bags and was constantly on the lookout for a real army bag. Well I finally found one. And for $1. When I got home I opened the bag to find a toothbrush as well as about 10 beer bottle caps... I don't think I want to know the senario behind them...
The girl singing right now sounds like a dying cow.

August 11, 2010

Doty

This is Doty. Doty and I have a funny story.


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Right before dress rehearsals I realized that I no longer had the old kaboodle I used to carry all my makeup and hair things for shows. On top of that I did not have any sort of replacement carrying case. I've been looking for a traincase that matches my luggage, but have yet to find one. Of course now that I'm back doing theatre work and all that I knew I needed a seperate case to store my stage makeup and whatnot in between shows. So off I a-thrifting to see what I could find.


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Well each place I went to either didn't have any, or they were missing a mirror. I spent an entire day looking for one. Fraser came along with me (he has discovered that he loves thrift stores, and loves going with me because I will buy him lunch out), and it was late, and I was tired and he was getting cranky, so I sent him over to the fast food place next door to get us a drink while I finished looking in the back corner of Salvation Army at the brick-a-brack. So there I was feeling a little bummed that I was going to end up having to get a new one from Target (which are ugly by the way), and just in that moment I saw her in all her mustard glory. I crossed my fingers, ran to the rack, and flipped the lid open! A mirror! A mirror! There was obviously a few flaws, but when as that ever stopped me? The mirror was coming off and some teenaged twerps had scratched their names in the back, but it was nothing I couldn't live with. Someone had nail polished the name "Doty" on the handle. My favourite movie is Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is the main character, Doty is a nickname for Dorothy, and it was the same colour as the yellow brick road. Basically through a very large stretch of logic, it was perfect.

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There were two price tags on the thing. One for $5.95, one for $8.95. I figured for either price I wasn't going to find anything more perfect. I went to check out and the lady hemmed and hawwed over which price to give it to me for. I told her I'd like the cheaper one because that was the one I saw first. She sighed and agreeded, and then I found out it was half off day. So the grand total for Miss Doty ended up at $2.97. I know! Needless to say I was pretty thrilled.


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When I got home I packed the thing to make sure it fit all my stuff and guess what? It did! I realize it was a little weird and ridiculous to be so very excited by a silly traincase, but it was the same week I was sick and dying and I was easily thrilled. But admittedly I think it's pretty cute in that it's-really-actually-very-ugly-but-ugly-in-a-good-way-kind-of-way.


Doty

August 10, 2010

In July

toesies
I went on a picnic and squished my toes in the grass.


Punjab Palace
Found an authentic Indian restaraunt, which was super yummy.


Sickling
took alot of medicine


Lovely Absess
had an icky tooth absess


The Purple Abomination
Tore this apart.



Laundry
Did laundry finally


Shoe twins
Wore the same shoes as Chelsea


Santa Funeral
Saw santas at a santa funeral. No joke. There were about 30 of them. All wearing this or Hawaiian shirts.

July was a good month.