Post Memorial Day Catch-up Post!

You read right.  Sorry about the absence, folks!  My laptop screen went out last week, and before that, I've been swamped with projects (some of which pertain to future entries, so stay tuned!), busy at work, and ran out of energy to update.

So here's the docket for today's entry:
- Friday 5 Catch-up from May 14th: Cooookieeee!
- Memorial Day Round-up: What I intended to do, and what I actually did
- Friday 5 Catch-up from May 28th: Oops!
- and Coming Attractions on the BodiceGoddess blog!


COOOKIEEEE!
What is absolutely the best cookie you’ve ever had?
I made a batch of cookies last fall, the week before my Tiny Roommate was born.  I called them "harvest" cookies, and they were a monster cookie mix of pumpkin, oatmeal, craisins, white chocolate and pecans.  And man, were they good.

What is a cookie you really don’t care for?
I'll go with the obvious here: oatmeal raisin.  I like oatmeal; I like raisins.  But somehow, in the traditional recipe, the cookie comes out kind of dry and icky.  There are better things you could have done with those ingredients.

What are some other cookies you are rather fond of?
I like cookies with oatmeal (for texture), pumpkin (for moistness) and chocolate (for deliciousness).

Grocery-store cookies are, of course, never as good as anything that comes out of someone’s kitchen, but what’s a packaged cookie that’s still pretty good?
Pepperidge Farm Milanos.

In general, do you think cookies should be chewy and gooey, or should they be crispy and crunchy?
I'm a chewy cookie girl.  I'm not a fan of the ones you have to float in milk in order to render them edible.  Or ones that leave too many crumbs.  I've taken to eating dessert cookies while reading in bed and crumblies are not conducive to good sleeping.


Memorial Day Round-Up
Memorial Day is traditionally a day to celebrate the sacrifices of veterans and those Americans who died in wartime.  It's come to represent the unofficial start of summer, and a welcome 3-day weekend just as spring heats up.
Over the past couple of years, in my life, it's meant that the ice is out, the lakes have turned, and the temperatures are warm enough at night for dive camp - SCUBA diving during the day; beers, bonfire and barbecue in the evening, and camping overnight.  It's also a cursed weekend, as something bad always happens to someones' car while diving (two years ago, I lost the keys; this year, a friend hit a big rock and broke an axle).  This year, however, with my sister's wedding and brother's graduation, Memorial Day means everyone is in town and can help clean my parents' house.
Here was my original plan:
- clean my living room
- reorganize all of my sewing/crafting stuff into a cohesive and accessible series of units
- go swimming with my Tiny Roommate
- help out with cleaning my parents' house
- oversleep
- finish the present for my brand-new SCUBA nephew
- get a sunburn (yeah, yeah, yeah, skin cancer, etc.  At least I'm playing outside to do it.)

Here's what actually happened:
Friday: got home from work early and cleaned my living room, and moved all of my sewing stuff into my bedroom.  Washed the kitchen floor and did some dishes.  Took a long nap, and had rum margaritas and played Trauma Center: New Blood until the margaritas started affecting my dexterity.
Saturday: Went to Mom and Dad's and helped reorg the garage; washed the screens and windows; planted annuals in a series of nice pots; sanded down, shored up and repainted a pair of adirondack chairs for the front porch.  Hit a bonfire, had some of that new Grain Belt Premium Nordeast, liked it, and played Rock Band until I passed out at about 3 in the morning.  Turns out you can be a rock star, but not a trauma surgeon, with the assistance of alcohol.  Went home and got to bed around 5:30 AM.
Sunday: Didn't get up until 3 in the afternoon.  I seem to have completely lost track of Sunday, because all I can remember is the delicious pork ribs my Dad made for dinner, and the abnormally packed house at the Chatterbox for karaoke.  I guess Sunday must've been my day off.
Monday: Didn't get up until noon, though my cat woke me up at 7 AM.  While she understands the concept of weekends, I guess she doesn't get Mondays off.  So I read in bed for a bit, and dozed back off.  Spent the mid-afternoon at Fort Snelling State Park's swimming beach with my roommates, Mama Bear and Bean (the mother-and-daughter iteration of my 3 roommates).  Bean may only be 7 months old, but she's a natural-born swimmer!  Loves splashing, doesn't mind getting her face wet, and kicks behind her with minimal coaxing.  She'll be a fun student.  After swimming, Mama Bear dropped me off at IKEA to meet Mom and my sister, where we picked up a metric f***-ton of supplies for the wedding.  Then it was back to Mom and Dad's for spaghetti, working - briefly - on the rehab of my sister's old room, and trying to fix the grill.  Got the whole thing taken apart and the crossfire ignition cut to size before finding out that the whole thing was too big for the  manifold. x_x  Headed back home and worked on my present for my SCUBA nephew for a while, and watched Hulu on my new computer monitor, AKA my TV.  By the time I went to bed, I was shocked that it was Monday night already!
So I got a lot done, unfortunately, nothing that involved lowering the teetering piles of craft supplies in my bedroom that my cat has taken to knocking over when I'm not home.  Still a victory of a weekend.


OOPS!
In the past month, what was your biggest OOPS?
Leaving the vacuum filter in the parking lot behind my car after painstakingly cleaning it.

In the past month, what inspired you to let out your most heartfelt WHEW?
Don't know, but I probably said something stupid, hoped no one heard it, and no one did.

In the past month, what caused you to say, “HUH?”
One thing, just about every day at work.

In the past month, what influenced the most ZZZZZZZZs?
Memorial Day weekend, and having 3 days off.

In the past month, what was most GRRRRRRRRR-worthy?
General family troubles, but who doesn't have those?


Coming Attractions
Bridesmaid Survival Kit 2: This Time it's Personal.
Apartment Garden progress (We moved the basil on Sunday!  That's what I did!)
And other pretty things, like:

Apartment Garden, Day 1

My roommates and I are itching for some green this spring!  Unfortunately, our building doesn't have much in the way of green space outside.  We started the next best thing: an apartment garden!

Right now, yes, it looks like a 3rd grade science project, with the seedlings started in an egg carton and 5 sawed-off milk jugs laying in wait for plants, but you know what?  Those beans I planted in Mrs. Zywiec's class grew - especially the ones we played music to.  So we've got basil, chives and thyme started on the stereo, and I'm hoping to get some lemon ball basil from my cousins.

Also, this is my first post from my Motorola Cliq - here's hoping it works!

Friday 5 for April 30: Red, and May 7: More Colors!

Almost too appropriate that I missed last week and am catching up today, considering the topics are so well tied together!
Here goes!

April 30: Red

1) What is your favorite red food?
This one's tough, but I'll go with strawberries.

2) When were you last caught red-handed?
Last Saturday, when snuck a few bites of my cousin Piper's Mint Oreo Blizzard when she "wasn't looking." Yeah, it was purposeful red-handness.

3) What’s your nicest red article of clothing?
Probably my new(ish) little tank dress, for its multipurpose usefulness. In terms of actual nicety, then my red bridesmaid dress from my friends' wedding.

4) Who’s got the loveliest red hair?
Christina Hendricks, Esquire's Best Looking Woman. Or Alyson Hannigan, 'cept for the fact that she keeps dying it darker.  Also Felicia Day.

5) What are your thoughts on the 2002 Baz Luhrmann film Moulin Rouge!?
Love it. Very trippy and colorful, but I'm a sucker for a musical!



May 7: Colors!

1) Who could be described as a nightmare in pink?
Molly Ringwald?

2) How long does it take you to type “The quick red fox jumps over the lazy dog” on your cell phone or computer keyboard?
Something like 6-8 seconds on the computer, maybe a titch longer on the Moto Cliq.

3) What item in a plain brown wrapper did you most recently receive?
Part of my mom's Mother's Day gift, purchased at the mercantile in Almelund, MN.  I won't say what it is (as if she reads this...), but I'll say I found it in the "antique" section, rather than the grocery, soda fountain, or what looked to be a community swap.  Might could be a post about this on Sunday...

4) Who’s got the loveliest cinnamon skin?
Variations on a theme here - Gina Torres.

5) When did you last take a walk in the lonely silver rain?
Oh man today at lunch!  It's gross out!  I don't blame the Twins for postponing tonight's game (inaugural rain delay game!) due to rain.

Bonus Question!
What is the real inspiration for this week’s questions?
I want to say song lyrics, but I'm probably wrong.


There you have it! Another week, another 5. (Plus a bonus 5!)

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Another international holiday, another trip to the Shop Local section of Etsy!

Here's my pics for Cinco de Mayo!

Prism necklace by dikua.
dikua has a small selection of quirky jewelry!

Etsy Support Printable by batzy.
I love the sentiment behind this printable poster!  It reminds me that, while I do have a full-time desk job that pays the bills (and actually is pretty interesting), my Etsy shop and costuming business is where my heart's at.

Lilac, sleepy cat by monstersncuties.
Very sweet.  Want to cuddle.  I can see my tiny roommate chewing on her ear!

Turquoise with moss green pleats zipper pouch by ziazia.
A shop full of totes, messengers, pouches and purses!

red felt octopus by alpinitorrico.
So cute!  Also want to cuddle!
Best part?  The buttons are pieces of felt, so it's CPSIA-friendly and child-safe!

embroidered greeting card by greenbirddreaming.
I'm a recent convert to how freakin' cool textile art is, and this one serves as a reminder of how close fishing season is!

mexican vintage style pillow cover by arboreto.
I love the bright greens and oranges in this pillow cover!  Draws the eye, but still looks like it'd be at home in my giant pile of pillows.  The back is a bright pink!

After compiling items from all over Mexico, I'm realizing how bent I am toward bright greens, reds and pinks right now.  Must be spring in the air!

Two years.

Has it been that long?

Two years ago, I was living in a little 700-square-foot apartment in Merriam Park a block away from O'Gara's with a circus performer.
Two years ago, I was working a hateful job at an embroidery shop, doing everything short of the finances and the embroidery itself - the work of two or three people - and was barely making ends meet.
Two years ago, I had lost faith in radio, and listened exclusively to my iPod or CDs.
Two years ago, I drove a PT Cruiser automatic with a 6-CD changer and a moon roof.

Two years ago, my world was shaken by the emotional earthquake that was losing my grandmother.  And I'm still feeling the aftershocks.


Since then, I've been trying so hard to live the life she'd have wanted me to live.  I've been doing things I hope she's proud of and, well, some other things I hope she looks the other way on.
Today, I live in a 3-bedroom apartment with a couple and their 6-month-old daughter.  I'm able to see my Tiny Roommate grow and change incrementally every day.  And I've seen her, cradled by her grandmother, in one of the chairs that used to belong to mine.
Today, I'm working as a "temporary employee" at a company I've been at for over a year now.  It's the longest I've stayed in one place.  The people here are phenomenal, and sometimes that's half the battle.  The other half is the work itself - it's constantly changing and, therefore, never boring.
Today, I listen to MPR 89.3, The Current.  Alternative music with a local bent to it, and completely supported by member contributions.  Every shred of faith in radio I had lost was returned the day I discovered The Current.
Today, I drive a Jeep Wrangler manual with crank windows, manual locks, and both a hard top and a soft top (or I can go topless).  I learned how to drive a manual, and listening to the Current more than replaces the CD changer.

Today, I'm still feeling the aftershocks.
It's a big year in my family, with my brother graduating from high school and my sister getting married.  My cousin Kyle just had his first communion as well.  There's a lot going on that she's not here for.  (And yeah, part of me wanted to end that sentence with "that she's missing," but that's hardly fair at all.)
The one scenario my sister and I keep playing over and over is Grandma, up in the Great Beyond, with her sister-in-law, Rose.  Grandma and Aunt Rose passed away about a month apart, and, having married brothers, were pretty close.  Rose's grandchild is getting married on the same day as my sister.  I can only imagine the hijinks that will ensue up Yonder and, having seen the two of them at weddings before, I can only hope that there's cab drivers there, too.

Friday 5 for April 23: The Bard (though I'm rolling late on this one!)

This week's Friday 5 honors Shakespeare's birthday! Fun for me because of all those collegiate-level courses... and my "Shakespeare's Contemporaries" seminar. You know, the one that gives you the major? That one.
Here we go!

1) In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lysander says,
“Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth…”
How has this proven (or not proven) to be the case in your life?
It never does.  In relationships, and even with the things I love to do.  Take sewing.  When I'm working on a project, I'll get so entranced in it that I'll forget to eat, or stay up until 4 in the morning fixing a mistake I made at 2am.  It's a battlefield.  But seeing that completed project, and getting to see (or not!) the life it has after me... that's love.  And it's not easy.

2) In Hamlet, the title character says, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” Who in your life has proven this not to be true? And if you’re willing to share, who in your life has proven this to be completely true?
Oh man, easy: I witnessed my friend, Kathy, give birth to her daughter, Illyanna.  The only drug she had was pitocin, which is a synthetic hormone.  No painkillers.  And twenty-six hours of labor.  Ain't nothin' frail about that.
As for someone who has proven it to be true... I'm not going to answer that one.

3) In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Pistol says,
“Why then the world’s mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.”
Ignoring the possible sexual meaning here, how do you feel about oysters?
Wow, yeah, that is dirty.
I love oysters, actually.  It kind of freaks me out how much I like them.  But between my ever-present love of seafood, and my dad's recent turn toward it, we've definitely split an oyster bar at one of the restaurants around here.  I'd love to do it again.  Damn, that was good.

4) In The Merchant of Venice, Lorenzo says,
“The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not mov’d with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.”
Do you agree, and have you known anyone who seemed to be completely unmoved by any kind of music?
I agree with my whole heart, and cannot abide by people who do not have wide-ranging and ever-changing tastes in music.  Those people bother me, and I don't really associate with them.

5) Is Shakespeare overrated, or is he truly the western world’s greatest writer?
This isn't an either/or question, really.  Yes, I think Shakespeare is a tad bit overrated, and no, he's not the western world's greatest writer.  I think that the fact that Shakespeare overshadows his contemporaries isn't fair.  Yeah, he did a lot more writing than most of them, but there are other good plays and written works from that period.  He's not the greatest writer in the western world, either, because other writers have had different impacts and affect people differently.

Events Roundup: Kick off Springtime and Support Your Local!

We've got a big weekend ahead of us here in Minnesota's capital city of St. Paul, and a lot of events that won't take more than a bus ride or a choice parking space and a good pair of sneakers to visit.  Here we go!

Saint Paul Art Crawl

Friday, 23 April, from 6-10pm

Saturday, 24 April, from noon-8pm

Sunday, 25 April, from noon-5pm

This tour of the Lowertown area of St. Paul covers three of my favorite things about St. Paul: the access to public art, free shuttle rides, and cool old buildings and spaces.  It's a fantastic opportunity to meet local artists and see where they work, what they do, and how they do it.  Kudos to all of the artists to have opened up their studios to any and all who come by - I'll try to stop by this Saturday or Sunday!

Saint Paul Farmer's Market

Saturdays 6-11am

Sundays 8am-1pm

The St. Paul Farmer's Market opens this Saturday, 24 April, for their 2010 season!  They'll be open until the end of November.  Hey - if you're already in Lowertown for the Art Crawl, check it out!  Grab a bag of fresh-from-the-garden produce and head into a warehouse to check it out.  There's also great people-watching, a good selection of produce and fresh flowers, and occasionally street musicians and performers.

Check out the website for more locations and dates.  Farmer's markets are a great way to support the local economy, and stay a little more green.  Buying local cuts down on shipping and production costs.  And it's good for you, too.

Alter/Nation: clothing exchange and creative evolution

Saturday 24 April, 1-6pm at The Bottling House

I know I was highlighting St. Paul, but don't be afraid of the twin across the river.  On Saturday in Minneapolis, MNfashion Week is sponsoring the Alter/Nation event, promoting the creative reuse of garments otherwise thrown away or forgotten in the back of the closet.  CounterCouture hosts, along with Ever After Gowns, Anthem Heart, Yelp, taj salon & spa, Je Ne Regrette Rien and I’ve Got Your Style, with the help of volunteers.

The event includes, but is not limited to, a clothing swap, formal dress donation, on-site tailoring and alterations, fashion shows, live screen printing, and even hair and make-up.  Check out the link (above) for more info on the Facebook event page!

MNfashion Week is going strong!

Check out  the various event continuing through this weekend, culminating in Christopher Straub's premiere of his new collection at the St. Paul Hotel on Sunday night.  (Yes, the Chris Staub from Project Runway - he's local!)

At any rate, even if it's raining, there's plenty to do!  So go out, explore the capital and its twin, and support your local!

by Maggie

(cross-posted in Maggie's Etsy team blog, HandmadeMN)

Celebrating Earth Day - Do You Have the Skills?

I was excited when, a few years ago, the Discovery Channel created "Planet Green." It's a wonderful channel with a lot of good ideas, and a pretty comprehensive website. I found the article "99 Skills for an Eco-Friendly DIY Lifestyle" to be particularily interesting, especially since I already do a lot of these things myself!

Here's some tips of my own based on Planet Green's list:

16. Have a repertoire of vegetarian recipes you can use for various occasions.
For lunch today, I had tabouli, a wonderful Mediterranean dish that's easy and cheap to make, and delicious to eat.
2 c bulgur wheat and 2 c water - saturate until it's done.
Add: chopped bundle of parsley, 1 cucumber, 1 tomato, a couple of tablespoons of lemon and a tablespoon or so of oil. You can also add mint or black pepper depending on how you like the taste. It's good as a salad, or on pita bread, and it's 100% veg and diabetic friendly - no meat, and bulgur has a low glycemic index.

28. Sew well enough to make your own clothing and reusable shopping bags.
Can do! As I said in an earlier post, I am endeavoring this year to buy as few new pieces of clothing as possible, and instead try to recycle what I have or buy second-hand. Though, I'll admit, I caved and bought a Woot Shirt last week.

44. Find what you need by bartering, or using CraigsList, eBay, and thrift stores.
I'm a big fan of this method of furnishing my apartment. In fact, all of my furniture is either inherited, a craigslist or garage sale find, or salvaged from the trash. And you know what they say about one person's trash.

53. Plant a garden for your climate
This one's a big deal here in Minnesota. The growing season here is pretty short. I also have the added difficulty of living in an apartment with no yard to speak of. However, my roommmates and I have plans in place for an apartment garden, where we'll grow herbs in old milk cartons. Just like elementary school.

69. Know how to use herbs and natural remedies to treat common illnesses.
Not enough people know how to do this right, and it bugs me. Yeah, you can go out and spend all your money on Tylenol Cough and Cold and Excedrin Migraine, but here's a thought: read the labels. Understand them. Tylenol and Excedrin have the same main active ingredient - acetaminophen. The only difference is the side stuff. Tylenol PM is acetaminophen and diphenhydramine, which is the active ingredient of Benadryl. Excedrin is usually acetaminophen and caffeine.  Just knowing that can help cut down on the number of pill bottles in the cupboard, the danger of combining meds and overdosing, and the tendancy to spend too much on those tiny little bottles.
In terms of natural remedies, ginger can be used to treat upset stomachs.
Coffee and other foods with natural caffeine can help to treat headaches.
Honey can treat pink eye.

74-78 are Transportation Skills.
One thing I'd definitely add to this is "Utilize public transportation."  Here in the Twin Cities, Metro Transit does a pretty good job of making sure folks can get to one area from another.  It is possible now to get from the Mall of America to Elk River by train, with one transfer from the Hiawatha LRT to the North Star at Target Field. I might just do it for the hell of it one of these days.
While they don't yet have an app for the iPhone or Android market, the website's pretty comprehensive, and they stay on top of the schedules.

85-99 are Conservation Skills.
Embrace Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is really what these amount to.  If you don't have to create garbage, don't.  If you do, create as little as possible.  And if you have to throw something away, know how.  Old TVs, coumputers and batteries have special disposal places and methods.  Recycle bins aren't just meant for the kitchen - those boxes that toothpaste comes in and empty toilet paper rolls are paper recyclables.  Sort accordingly.

Happy Earth Day!

Coming soon: A preview post of weekend events around St. Paul and possibly Minneapolis, highlighting springtime and staying green!