Why did I feel the need to buy malted milk powder?

I ran errands this morning before Katherine came to help me transport my new rugs.

I picked up my new glasses.  I went to the Cheeseboard for more Prairie Breeze cheddar.  And I went to Spun Sugar to get red gel paste coloring for my red velvet cupcakes.

The shopkeeper told me that while gel paste is great for frosting, I should try their liquid red food coloring.  So I got that instead.  I’ll let you know how it turns out.

But since I was in the shop anyway I couldn’t stop myself from picking up a package of malted milk powder.

Cool, right?  Now why exactly did I buy this?  What do you make with malted milk powder if you are not planning on making any malted milkshakes?

Any ideas?

night

I think it’s perfect

Katherine made me leave work early and go to the movies with her today.

Thank goodness.

We went to see Black Swan at the Shattuck.

And after watching it all I can say is …. I think it’s perfect.  A flawless movie.  I wouldn’t change a thing.  Casting seemed perfect.  Acting was unbelievable.  The effects, the music, … just everything.

I love how there was so much going on that you start to second guess yourself…  wait – did I really see that or is that in my head?  And there are hints at things that may or may not be.

I went with Katherine and her friend Allegra.  And we all thought different things happened.  We disagreed on the nitty-gritty bits.  But we all agreed that it was amazing.

What an amazing experience.

I’m so glad Katherine made me go.

night.

Hevr got into Opto School!

My beloved friend, former next door neighbor and former student Hevr found out yesterday that she got into UC Berkeley’s School of Optometry.

She didn’t think she’d get it.  But I knew.  I always knew that she deserved it.

And now she has it.

I’m happy, are you happy?  You should be happy.

night

it REALLY is the little things

I am listening to the voice of Roger Ebert while I’m typing this.

It’s his commentary track on Orson Welles’ classic Citizen Kane.  And I’m not saying that Citizen Kane isn’t enough of a wonder to enjoy on its own but to listen to Mr Ebert again… it just makes me so happy.  It’s that strong but ephemeral nostalgic feeling that makes you feel wrapped in a blanket just out of the dryer.

Because when you get right down to it.  When the day gets long … what pulls you through are the little things.

Today I was told that it was very nice that I remembered that I said I would give cupcakes to some folks even though I was drinking bourbon shots at a friends going away party when I made the statement.  Cupcakes can make people’s days… multiple days made by a single cupcake even.  Because cupcakes are cool like that.

Sometimes information and sharing it willingly is the little thing.  Like little pieces of advice and lessons learned.  So good to get information first hand from someone who did it the hard way first and wants you to have an easier time of it.  (Thank you Clara – I took your advice on how to post the rugs.)

Sometimes it’s a warm bed, or a fluffy cat (if you’re not allergic), or a friend willing to let you use their car, or… the list goes on.

There are so many amazing and wonderful things in life that you just have to let yourself see.

Well that’s what I think.

night

the rugs are ready

I got a voice mail today telling me that my new rugs are ready.

Which is fantastic news… but means that I need to clean, take pictures, post and sell my old rugs.

I have got to take out my vacuum and clean them up.  Measure them.  Find a way to take good pictures of them.  Figure out the right price for each of them.  Post them.  And get them out of the apartment.

What a pain.

Does anyone want a rag rug or 5?

night

Sometimes Lazy is Necessary

I didn’t cross a whole lot off my to-do list this weekend.  Even though I was off for 4 days.

And I can honestly say I don’t mind.

I have had a LOVELY weekend just relaxing and enjoying the homestead.

I made some great blueberry muffins.  Fantastic recipe.  I highly recommend it.

I watched some Columbo and some Murder She Wrote.

Sure,  I could have been productive.  I could have done more beading than just finishing that purple size 6 beaded necklace.  I could have cut more fabric or actually sewed a few things.  I could have gone out for more than Pilates and groceries.  But no… I took a full on mental health weekend and relaxed.

A few nights of fantastic sleep are worth the sense that perhaps I could have accomplished more.

I recommend more sleep.  Me and Arianna Huffington.

night

Should I stay or should I go?

Yesterday I had a FANTASTIC time with Michelle at Yarn Con.

I don’t knit but I had a wonderful time.  And I am going to go to yet another bead expo with Winnie on March 5th.  And then Vintage Fashion is coming again on March 19th and I can NOT wait!

So obviously I enjoy expos, fairs and bazaars.  Which makes the fact that I’m not excited / seriously interested in going to the Quilting, Sewing, Crafting Festival that is happening next weekend kind of strange.

I sew.  There’s a quilt somewhere in my apartment that I’m working on, supposedly.  And I craft.  Quite a bit according to my friend.

So why am I not excited about this event?

Maybe it’s because I can’t find any solid information about it.  Or reviews.

Maybe it’s because it’s in SAN MATEO and not easy to get too so if I don’t know it’s going to be life altering it’s just too much of a hassle.

Then I started thinking… what do I need to sew?  A machine… I have two, Chuck and Baby.  And I’m not ready to buy a serger just yet.  And when I do it will be from St Mountain and Daughter OR from Berkeley Sewing and Vac.  Fabric – I have MORE than enough.  Patterns – I’m good to go, thanks so much.  Thread and needles – also good.

So what would I get there that I don’t already have?  What would I see that would be new and engaging?  I’m not saying it’s not worth it to other people.

But to me?  There really isn’t a compelling reason to rent a car or travel by public transit for hour and hours to go to a festival that will most likely be a lot of people selling the same things I can get at home.

I wish it were closer.  Because I’m interested… just not interested enough.

night

Why do monkeys need dishes?

Renee and I were talking about restaurant supplies and she mentioned that she missed “monkey dishes”.

She then spent a lot of time and a couple of emails getting me to understand what the heck a “monkey dish” is.  Now that I’ve actually seen and held one I can say that my best description is this:  It’s that bowl they use to serve jello in cafeteria.

So since I was at Rocket Restaurant Resource today (thanks to the amazing Michelle)… I looked around for monkey dishes.  But I didn’t see anything that looked right.  So I asked…  and was told after some searching… what size do you want?

Ummmm there are different sizes?  I didn’t know there were different sizes.

Then the sales lady said with a straight face, “Oh I’m just kidding with you.”  (I love the sales ladies at Rocket.  They are so full of win.  You should go meet them.)

She got the big box of 3 dozen monkey dishes that had arrived recently and hadn’t even been put into the system priced and then she boxed up 4 for me and wrapped them and make sure they were secure so I could give them to Renee.

Because when you can get something small and hard to find and much beloved for a friend… you should do it.

That’s how I roll.

night

My new tooth is plastic

My dentist and his team are all kinds of amazing and I adore them.  Which is important when your dentist is shooting your mouth full of Novocaine and waiting for you to get all numb and groggy.

See, I got a temporary crown today.

Which is fine.  It’s good in fact.  Needed, even.  But the thing is… it’s made of plastic.

I’m sorry but that’s strange.  A new tooth was created over my old tooth using PLASTIC molding material.

It’s like this new tooth is made out of the stuff as James May’s Paradise in Plasticine.

So, yeah, new plastic temporary tooth… I’ll get over it.  But it might take a while.

night

eating out of the freezer and pantry

A few weeks ago, I read a very good blog post about new year’s food resolutions.

And while I don’t like resolutions, I found one of them intriguing.  I really like the idea of eating out of the freezer and dry storage.  I have such a horrid habit of stocking up and then eating only the new stuff.

I have polenta I don’t use, I think there is some really lovely brown and wild rice I should be getting through, etc.  And the freezer is a bit over run…. I mean, it’s a bad, bad thing if you can’t buy ice cream because there’s not enough room.

So this year I’m going to get through as much of the cabinet and freezer stuff as I can.

It’s just a good idea.

I mean the zombie apocalypse is coming but I don’t think the food I have put away is the right stuff.  I’ll need to rethink my supply list.

night