Sprouts for free!

I almost purchased earthworms for my housemate's birthday.

She recently informed me a family of earthworms were shopping the neighborhood and have moved into our compost bin, their own choice.

I almost purchased a pack of green onion seeds for her.

Little did I know you could toss the bottoms, that I normally chop and discard, into some water and you get new scallions.

In a world God created to provide for everyone without favoritism and at the cost of equally free, I wonder why I bother spending so much.

RIP Sagan

15 years ago, the world lost Carl Sagan.

15 years ago I was in elementary school. As part of the gifted and talented program, each week I was bussed into a local community college along with the other students in the district program to take classes of interest. I always chose the space science classes when possible. Growing up, I lived near NASA mission control and in that area it was not uncommon for your neighbor, classmate's parent or teacher's husband to be an astronaut.

One particular class I took required an extra bus ride to another building. Looking back, I can't recall if it was a branch of an aerospace company or some sort of research facility, but there were three or four adults that taught new and exciting topics each week. One week was shooting model rockets we assembled, one week was theories for dinosaur extinction, another week was learning about wavelengths and how our eyes registers light and color, but the thing I remembered most about that course was each week during lunch my grandmother would pack me a tuna fish sandwich and the teachers would wheel in a tv and vcr so we could watch Carl Sagan's Cosmos series as we ate.

Carl Sagan and tuna fish sandwiches for a whole semester.

We sighed a frustrated "not again" sigh when the tv and vcr were rolled out as we turned our attention to which kid's parents packed them gushers. One time on outspoken classmate wished him dead so the videos would stop. Our teachers informed us Carl was actually very sick at the moment.

I along with the rest of the class did not appreciate Carl. His monotone voice. His gentile, slow pace. His ability to make interesting topics that would have held my interest in a Schoolhouse Rock video, sound like a bore. I did not have much appreciation for shows that lacked colorful animated characters, songs and gags. I wasn't ready for Carl.

15 years have passed and I am ready to appreciate one of the most visible scientists of our time. Here's to you Carl.

RIP Carl Sagan
December 20, 1996

Silly puppies

My baking session was interrupted by barking.

Sami is the only barker. Hiro is a whiner/howler and he only does this when Sami leaves him behind or doesn't want to play with him.

Sometimes it's a squirrel or another animals and sometimes passerbyers. I used to be scared of dogs barking behind fences. When I was a child, there was one dog behind a long stretch of fence (houses in Texas have big backyards) around the corner from my house and on the way to the park. One day I was walking with my grandpa to the park. When the dog started barking my grandpa yelled out in a big booming voice "SHUT UP!" The dog immediately ceased barking and let us walk by in silence. My grandpa used to work in railroad construction and had quite a bit of practice yelling over dynamite explosions. In that moment I thought my grandpa was the strongest, most powerful man on earth. Even the scary dog listened to him.

What could Sami be barking at?

About fifteen minutes earlier, Jbear gave each of them a busy bone. Busy bones are treats made of meat wrapped in raw hide. They seem to last longer than most dog treats. Sami's jaws are so strong she chomps, breaks it up and devours it within five minutes. Hiro takes his sweet time licking, chewing, tossing it around and can make it last for half an hour to an hour.

Hiro: Mmmm this bone is soooo delicious!

This is agony for Sami. She can smell the busy bone. She wants the busy bone. Even if its in Hiro's mouth. She has no shame (or adversity to germs).

When he's within reach she climbs all over him and tries to bite the busy bone if its sticking out of his mouth. If he's not within reach, she barks.

Sami: Give it to me!
Hiro: Try to reach me!

What a silly baby. She's greedy. If we give her a treat, she drops it in her safe spot that no one can reach then goes after whatever we are giving Hiro. We try to be fair. But she's the kid that doesn't care about fair. So she barks.

Sami: Look innocent, she's watching.

DIY Christmas Cards

Why do people charge so much for greeting cards?

Remember when you were little and used to fold a piece of loose leaf paper in half, wrote your message in big letters and doodle some stick figures with smiley faces and their name underneath (so they can identify the characters) and hand it over with a big smile? Is this no longer acceptable?

This year I've been in a crafting mood and decided to make my own Christmas cards.

I figure most people don't save their cards so I should make something fun, easy and cheap so I can make them while watching something netflix and don't get terribly sad if I see it in the trash. You know how that is.

-------

{Goals}

*under $10 

*texture/3d elements

*one-sided

*each must be unique

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Wandering Michaels and digging through my craft bag, this is what I came up with.

{Supplies}

$2 - Michaels - 2 sets of $1 bin cards, 8 cards each (find something with a nice print)

$3 - Michaels - 2 sets Xmas decals (paper cutouts in fun shapes)
$3 - Michaels - Foam double-sided stickies (in tape aisle)
$1 - Michaels - Rhinestone stickers (guessed on price, I had these leftover. I bought some shiny rhinestone stickers for a stocking project and they only rang up for $0.01! Who knew a penny could buy you anything these days.)

{Other supplies}

$1.79 - Walmart - Xmas stickers (optional)
Paper cutter
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1. Cardstock. You could use regular cardstock, but I wanted something with a print and a glossy feel. I like the cards in the dollar bin at Michaels. They are 8 for $1 and the cardstock is pretty thick. I found theses red ones with a fun pattern and rounded edges. 

2. Postcards/Tags. Since I wanted something more like postcards I used a paper cutter to cut the cards down the crease so now I have 16 cards instead of just 8.

3. 3d. I used the foam stickers behind the cutouts to make them pop out. You can stack the foam stickers on each other to make them stick out more. If you are using multiple cutouts on one card you can vary the number of foam stickers behind each to give more of a 3d image.

4. Texture. Place stickers/rhinestones/etc. for unique fun designs. This is a good opportunity to use up leftover stickers.

Total: $9 for 32 cards

Not bad. I don't think I'm giving out 32 gifts but I wouldn't mind hanging these around my room for decoration.

DIY cupcake socks

I like fuzzy socks and I like cupcakes. Who doesn't?

I found a calorie-free combination that a couple of people might be receiving for Christmas.{wink wink}

 Betsey Johnson's version on Amazon

{Instructions online}

regular socks

fuzzy socks

fancy puffy version

 {Supplies}

{My Version}

Socks: Fuzzy socks with different prints to match my friend's personalities from Old Navy. Tie with rubberband or hair band if you are not a fan of that rubberband smell.

Paper: Scrapbook paper from Michaels (on sale $0.25 for each 12"x12" sheet; normally $0.59). I made 3 from one sheet. Can use paper trimmer or silly scissors for trim. Seal with tape.

Cherry: Most people use a fuzzy red puff balls. Christmas decorations were on sale at Michaels so I picked up a branch and pulled off the cherries. Use anything that resembles a red cherry. Also consider jingle bells, chocolate ornament balls, milk chocolate Lindt balls, etc. (If using chocolate, do not store near heater or you might be giving ants with your cupcakes. O__O)

Container: I used clear treat bags leftover from a party. Look around your home for containers. Also consider cellophane, cupcake holder box, gift bag, etc.

 

Treats: Pack them with treats the receiver might use. I packed my bags with my favorite lotions (for my fellow eczema survivors) and my favorite nail polishes (my favorite is Essie). I thought this was a good opportunity to share my nail polishes that I purchased but couldn't use because my eczema flare up ate one of my cuticles and hasn't given it back. It's on the top of my Christmas wish list. Also consider other toiletries, makeup, first aid kits, actual cupcake mix, gift certificates, etc.  

Do you see what I see?

I think I'm sick. There is the sore throat, occasional cough, overall soreness and general lethargy. No fever or runny nose (yet).

Can you tell who is keeping me company?

She is shy but has a stomach of lavender goodness.

 Yup! It is my cozy hugs hippo. I rescued her from Border's when the store was closing. I got someone else one for Christmas. Not only is she soft and cuddly but she smells oh so good (especially if you stick her in the microwave for a bit). Strange to think of microwaving toys. I think my friend is old enough to know not all toys go in the microwave.

I can't imagine a hippo being in the barn on Christmas so I picked out a lamb. Baa!

Coffee tolerance building

Whew! What a weekend!

1 comedy show

3 birthdays

1 year-end party

(deep breath)

200 lumpia (right after learning) and

300 dumplings (this one is a guess)
 later...

I am ready to call it a night. 

The hunt for a tiramasu cake ended well (Costco only carries it seasonally), it was her one request. I take this space to thank you Whole Foods. (It seems all JBear's previous coworkers girlfriends all work there now. Is there something I'm missing out on?) My housemate turned 30 with a dumpling party. I hope I can cook, bake, garden, sew and all those other magical gifts she possesses as well as her by my 30th birthday.

 Can you see our remote-controlled Christmas lights in the background? Love it.

Getting lost in Los Altos (on my way to a party, of course) landed me at a closing shoe store and I ended up with some new Tamarac sheerling boots for half off. (My Uggs finally get a break! They've been faithfully working hard these past few years.)

Leaving the party in Los Altos I was once again lost and found a cute product market and after sampling every apple and pear they carried came home with some delicious pears. (But before making it home, helped wrap almost 200 lumpia to feed a Sunday service of 40 hungry people.)

Mushrooms at the market. I am too tired to rotate this image.

---------------------

Just purchased tickets for a Warriors game in March. My college friend from Japan is visiting next year and this will be her and her husband's first NBA game. Last time they were here, she mentioned visiting next year quite a few times, and he responded with uncertainty due to work quite a few times. The moment we drove past the Oracle Arena and mentioned basketball, the husband's ears perked up, his eyes grew wide with wonder and he no longer hesitated to agree with his wife that a return trip next year was in order.

Tip: Apparently, the key to getting your friend's spouse to visit is to promise sporting event tickets.

Five minutes after purchasing tickets she sent me an email ending in...


"...We can see our first NBA gammmmmme!!!Yeahhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Haha. I imagine her on the other side of the world yelling at her computer screen, then calling her husband on the phone and yelling at him. The good kind of yelling.

---------------------

Despite feeling terribly overwhelmed on Friday and a few bumps in the road, this is one of those crazy weekends that makes weekends worth the count down. I wouldn't wish it any other way.

There is that small detail that

in 7 hours it's...

Nookie cookie

I'm still working on a name. Usually a name jumps into my head when I first see it, but this time, nothing.

Anyways, I got a refurbished nook color on black friday for almost half off. So far so good.

features
It has downloadable apps, can play music, connects to wifi, and I can almost download books from the library. Soon it will be TaTa to late fees... now if only one of these darn books would open.

bad
I didn't want to give it my credit card but I haven't found any good free paint apps so I might have to give in.

free ebooks
I am having issues downloading books and audio books from the library (my original intention for the purchase) but one of the books I wanted was offered free from barnes and noble. Barnes and noble books download great. They have lots of classics for free. I tried to download some from Project Gutenberg. They download and open fine, but they aren't recognized as book so I can line them up on my digital bookshelf or rename the files. Right now the files look like pg11.epub and pg2591.epub. That translates to Alice in Wonderland and Grimm's Fairy Tales.

what am i reading?
Can you guess the first book I am reading? I've been meaning to read it because it's a classic and I keep hearing friends say it's their favorite book. That's a weighty statement. I'm not even sure what my favorite book is...

Ready?

Clue #1: "Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how..."

Clue #2: "Hi brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend, Mr. Darcy, soon drew the attention of the room..."

Clue #3: Written by Jane Austen.

How many clues did it take you?

Truck Rally

My camera is acting very peculiar. I am not sure how some people can upload pictures every day, but I am much less consistent. Lately when I upload pictures from the Nikon, many of the pictures are not readable and stay on the SD card. Month later, during a different upload session, the pictures make an appearance and I think Doh! That's where those pictures went.

Time to play catch up.

First up, pictures from the summer. Suddenly in a reminiscent mood of warmer days and evening sunlight. My old college apartment neighbor (who I haven't seen in years!) and I met up in Palo Alto for a food truck rally. Where I ran into another college dorm neighbor. Small world. I love California summer days.

 

 

Edgewood Eats is a weekly food truck rally in Palo Alto, CA.
Every week is a different line up so check out the facebook group.

Bring some chairs, blankets, the family, the dog, and money. Don't forget the CA$H money.

Makeup Marketing

Makeup marketing ads kind of confuse me sometimes.

I recently received this email from beauty.com. I'm sure NARS makes wonderful shadow pencils (is that a hybrid between eye shadow and eye liner pencils?).

Beauty.com

But I'm not sure if I want to look like a character from a Tim Burton movie.

Corpse bride

 Sally

And why does everyone look so disgruntled?

Smile people! It's almost Christmas!
 
I think the most fantastical ads go to MAC and Makeup Forever. I don't know about wearing muppet-inspired makeup but they have great design teams.

I didn't know Disney owned the muppet franchise. 

----------------------------

Things that have cracked me up lately...

For the bio labrats - Bad Project (Lady Gaga parody) 

Lab can be kind of fun if you have fun labmates. Some of the researchers during my lab experience were hilarious.

Texts from Bennett - Kids say the darndest things even as teenagers. Trying to flood a neighbor's car because she was talking too loud by sticking a hose in her car? You can't make that up.

Virgin Diaries - Have you seen the trailer with the couple's wedding/first kiss? You probably have. Never mind.

Happy Weekend!