Goodness!

I really should get on my bike more...

Tutorial Thursday!

Came across this great tutorial for cork cans today on Paper n' Stitch- Love it! Organize your desk space or make a little planter! She's got step by step directions and lots of great photos.. and once again, it's a GREEN PROJECT! Even better. Happy Thursday yous guys!

BBAAAHHHHHRHRRRGGHHHHH

You know how...like...when you're working on something, or you've just finished...and you're really excited about it... and you SO BADLY want to share but you can't because said "something' is a surprise for someone who may see it in a public space like the interwebz...? So you just have to wait until the occasion is over?

yeah, i have that.

DOMO!

So yeah this is Domo Kun, a monster-lookin' critter I just learned about. I know 0% about Japanese TV, but he is, apparently, "the official mascot of Japan's NHK television station, appearing in several 30 second stop-motion sketches shown as station identification during shows"

I just think he's kinda cute. Click here to see a little video titled "Hungry"

i do not like whatever he's doing to that kitteh.

SO. point of this is... I have a friend/my stylist who asked me to make a case for her iPod touch. I tried one with just printed fabric, an owlie one... and then this one seemed just right. She really likes Japanese pop culture too, so it works out. There were a few...prototypes, I got it to my liking.

Hurray!

As american as apple cherry pie and baseball.

GORGEOUS weekend! And so busy! Ryan and I kicked it off with a round of Pitch Black IPA's at Porch Swing Friday afternoon which was promptly followed by a nap. Had a low key Friday night. Saturday morning I made kolaches for breakfast, did a little sewing and baking, as I donated a pie to the Art Lies auction/ spring roundup/ pie raffle. I made a cherry pie...and then burned it...not CHARRED...but the crust was black and I didn't want to donate an ugly pie... so I had to buy a pie (lame) and bring it over to the art space. So now there's a quasi-burned yet still very tasty cherry pie at the house. well.. ok there's 1/4 of a pie at the house...
[before the burning]

After the pie-delivery, Ryan and I went over to George R Brown to check out the Houston Public Library used book sale. There were hundreds and hundreds of books all over lots of tables- you got dizzy from tilting your head to see the titles...I only left with 1 book (huge purchase of $1.08), a Phillipa Gregory I'd never read, but could have easily left with more. After perusing the books we crossed the street and spent about an hour at discovery green. There were lots of families out enjoying the day and enjoying a live performance of Taming of the Shrew.

[bike art]

We sat and watched kids play in the water for a bit...and we were very jealous.

We sat in the Listening Vessels: "Sculptor Doug Hollis’ Listening Vessels sits in the midst of the Urban Gardens. The two parabolas, cut from solid limestone and spaced 60 feet apart, epitomize Hollis’ desire to call attention to events that are taken for granted, such as conversation. Visitors are intended to come across the vessels and gain an understanding of their function as they realize they can hear the words of another person speaking at a normal volume, a great distance away."

After walking around the park and working up an appetite, we boiled some shrimp and baked garlic bread for an early dinner.

Sunday, we went to the Astros v. Pirates game with Mom and Dad. The ballpark is near the beautiful Annunciation Catholic Church, built in 1869, so we explored a little bit.

Mom and I lit a few candles for family that have passed and for friends and family in our thoughts and prayers.

It was a perfect day for a baseball game. A little on the warm side, but nothing a cold beer couldn't remedy. We won 10-3!

After the game, we got a few lbs of crawfish with corn and potatoes for dinner and decided to call it a weekend, getting home around 8. I added some finishing touches on an ipod touch case [ below] I made for a friend and was asleep a minute after my head hit the pillow.

Still a little tired and having a little trouble getting into this Monday. It's beautiful outside again and I can't stop daydreaming about driving down to Galveston to stick my toes in some sand and finish my book.

I hope your weekend was absolutely wonderful! It's almost May- EEK!

Tutorial Thursday!

TURN THESE

INTO THIS!

Peel your bananas first. • Cut them into small pieces. • Freeze for just 1-2 hours on a plate. • Blend, blend, blend - scraping down the bowl when they stick. • Enjoy the magic moment when they turn into ice cream!

RECIPE HERE!

Green Couture!

Amazingness! In honor of Earth Day, here's a wonderful article about designer Gary Harvey's showcase for GreenShows during NY Fashion Week this year. He used all recycled materials for these beautiful dresses! See full story here.

The Financial Times.

Old trench coats

Scarves

Cowboy/pearl snap shirts

Baseball jackets

I would love to learn how to refurb my old clothes... but donating is just as helpful!

When life hands you lemons... keep them cuz hey, free lemons.

"Oh! Hello Yellow!" or "You know you're getting older when you have massive kitchen envy." or "Man... bitchin' kitchen' ".

SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN, CLEAN - outkast

Crablegs, breweries, and rainstorms

Weekend ingredients! This past weekend went too fast for sure. Friday after work, I did a little house cleaning and napping. Ryan and I met up with Mom and Dad for dinner at this Asian place that was doing all-you-can-eat crab legs. I pretty much are my weight in crab rangoon and sesame chicken. Got home around 9:30 and felt like a stuffed tick. (gross!) so going out wasn't at the top of the list of things to do. Plus we didn't want to go out and drink...because we had to get up early... to drink.

Met up with Megan around noon on Saturday at the new St. Arnold brewery! Was our first visit and definitely I'll be back soon. Where else can you get the freshest beer ever for 7$ or less? By less I mean you get in for free if you bring in 10 recycled 6 pack holders, you get 4 beer tokens and a small (maybe 8 oz?) commemorative glass. Dad gave us 20 6pack holders the night before so we drank 8 pints of delicious fresh beer (combined) for 0 dollars! ZERO. We stopped at Pinks beforehand and brought a Mediterranean pizza to eat @ the brewery for lunch. Lessons learned: 1) bring chairs. 2) maybe a game? 3) bring extra beer tokens. 4) get there @ 11 if you want a spot @ the picnic tables.

Taps!

Mural

Mash tuns

Ryan and I enjoying our brown ale.

Exterior

After the brewery we went to Porch Swing for a bit to soak up some sun and then went to a free in store (that just so happened to be serving St. Arnold... weird..) to "celebrate" National Record Store day.

It was a really good Saturday.

Sunday was relaxing, woke up to rain so it was a perfect movie day. We watched The Fourth Kind.. (damn Aliens..). Between rain storms, Ryan and I managed to fit a walk in...did a little neighborhood exploring and then grilled up chicken for fajitas for dinner. So so good.

Pretty old oaks in the 'hood.

Hope your weekend was wonderful and you're having a happy Tuesday!

OH Ernge!

Have the prettiest weekend!

[weheartit images]