I’ve has the idea for awhile now, that I wanted to make all my friends & family homemade Christmas gifts. Last night I revealed my plan to Gregg, he said it was a great idea. It’s actually pretty daunting; because we have a ton of close friends & family members. (I did a rough calculation & it was over 20) Oh, & I don’t want to make just *one* gift per person/family, I want to make entire baskets w/ a variety of stuff.
Good thing is, Gregg & I work pretty great together. He’s into aesthetics, & able to see the bigger picture. I excel in grunt work, I like doing, putting things together, the small steps. (Ie: when cooking together, I chop everything up, prep & he puts it all together into something exceptional.)
The whole idea started with this blogpost, where a bride-to-be blogger made homemade vanilla extract & vanilla sugars.The extract takes a few months to make, how awesome is this? I want to be able to say, “I love you *so* much, I thought of *you* 5 months ago!!”
I’d love to include some yummy treats too. Since Gregg camps a ton (& I have …once…) I think S’mores on a stick would be a fun addition. We also like things spicy, homemade hot sauce? Homemade sour gummies?!? yes!
Maybe the gift basket could include something new from the past year. I started gardening, how about including some homemade seed tape?
This also could be the perfect time to get craft things I’ve always wanted but couldn’t justify, like a button machine. or even better, a letterpress machine. (Total personal obsession of mine)
I met a lady last week, who brewed her own beer. I think that would rock as well. I once made prison wine in highschool, it was terrible, so a kit would be required!
Have you ever made homemade gifts? What was your favorite? Any tips for such a feat?
Gregg made a Spicy Southwest Chicken Soup for dinner last night that included, green bell peppers, corn, black beans, cilantro, sour cream, & of course chicken. Paired w/ chips & amazing homemade salsa! :) I’m having leftovers for lunch. Super spicy & cilantro overload. (How I like it!) -The white stuff in the soup is sour cream. Gregg’s a fancy man & piped it into the soup, rather than dollops.
The Smashing Pumpkins are my all time favorite band. If you you’ve met me over the years, the one thing you would know for sure, is I’m “that girl who is obsessed with the Smashing Pumpkins.” I spent most of my formative years talking non-stop in Pumpkin lyrics & generally being a complete Pumpkinhead.
That said, I’ve never seen them play live. Yes! Crazy, I know! Being a bit “young”, I wasn’t able to have seem them in their “mainstream” touring days (Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness was released October 1995- I was nine *gulp*!) – & the year I really got into them (feed me Bsides, I own the boxset, live/breathe SP) was 2000 & the unfortunately the year the original members of the band broke up. The few times they have been to the Tampa area since 2000, I’ve either been out of town, or unable to make it for some reason or another. (Shame!)
I was terribly nervous heading to the concert. I hardly could talk, this was my first time seeing my coveted band! The band that changed everything! Gabi even poked fun at me for how nervous/unable to speak I was. I was worried that they wouldn’t live up to what they are in my mind. I mean, 10 years of build up… doesn’t seem like it’s going to go well.
Once in, Gabi & I got a drink. I know my friend, Justin (all the photos), would be there & actually his girlfriend, Andrea found me! She informed us that Justin was already in, he had been able to score an armband to see warm-up & such. As soon as the doors opened, the three of us rushed to find Justin. He was up front!
I was standing front row middle. of. my. favorite. band. -ever.
I could barley believe it. Shortness of breath.
The stage was a complete over-the-top extravaganza, w/ two giant silver mosaic fans spinning & lighting fixtures that flashed multiple strobe lights. Visual delight!
The current line up features guitarist Jeff Schroeder, bassist Nicole Fiorentino, & drummer Mike Byrne. Make no mistake though, Billy was running the show & at every opportunity he was wailing on his guitar. It was a night of guitar worship, -the altar of The Bald One. ;)
I was excited that they played well known “mainstream success” songs, like “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” & “Today,”. The crowd went nuts w/ energy as they sang along & enjoyed 1995 all over again. To top it off, they played the best version of “Ava Adore” I’ve ever heard, which was full of Billy’s guitar talent & rock-your-face-off rock.
The kinda lame part is, I was moved beyond I ever expected. I cried a few times during the set. Tears of total happiness.
The band left stage, everyone screamed & cheered until the Pumpkins came back out to an even bigger applause to play one last song, the ~18-minute song “Gossamer.” The unreleased track began w/ sexy guitar riffs, melted down into a muddled stew & came back to a shred fest before Billy finally put it to bed. (I have watched this song online, it ranges anywhere from 15 to 35 minutes when played on tour.)
I also scored a drum stick from Mike Byrne! I screamed & screamed for a track list (I collect them, & wanted to be able to post here), but they exited & the Ritz’s security was complete jerks, -made everyone exit asap.
Some of the songs they played:
Astral Planes (new song)
Ava Adore (“Adore”)
Today (“Siamese Dream”)
Stand Inside Your Love (“Machina/The Machines of God”)
Bullet With Butterfly Wings (“Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness”)
Perfect (“Adore”)
Cherub Rock (“Siamese Dream”)
Tarantula (“Zeitgeist”)
Tonight (“Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness”)
Gossamer (unreleased)
That is the biggest smile of complete awesomeness happening in front of you
& clearly, Gabi is getting her face rocked off.
It’s the day after & my ears are still ringing as I’m writing this. If every show was like this Smashing Pumpkins one, rock and rock would have no problem. This is easily the best concert I’ve ever been to. (Previously, my top concert was Thievery Corporation in Chicago @ the Metro in 2007.)
HUGE thanks to Justin & Andrea for the sweetest spot & also, Justin is an amazing artist & great person -make sure to check out his work!
If you want to see all my photos from the concert, visit my Flickr photo set. & I added the Pumpkin song widget to the right. Make sure to check it out! :)
Update, thanks to Andy:
SETLIST
1. Astral Planes
2. Ava Adore
3. Today
4. Hummer
5. As Rome Burns
6. A Song for a Son
7. Eye
8. Bullet With Butterfly Wings
9. United States
10. Bleeding the Orchid
11. Perfect
12. Cherub Rock
13. That’s the Way (My Love Is)
14. Owata
15. Stand Inside Your Love
16. Tarantula
17. Tonight, Tonight
ENCORE
18. Freak
19. Gossamer
I’m still freaking out a bit. I don’t even want to write about this place because I want to keep this gem away from everyone but at the same time, I want to tell everyone in the area about it. I’m in love. I couldn’t even sleep when I got home because I was in such awe. (I got home at roughly 2am…)
Okay, I am getting way too excited. Beginning. It’s Oz’s birthday. We had already been out to dinner @ Jackson’s Bistro. (Another post another day!) One of his friends wanted him to meet up w/ them at a “speakeasy”. As soon as I heard the term, “speakeasy” I was visualizing the Great Gatsby & terribly excited.
We parked on a random side street, & as far as we knew, the directions that were given to us “Find a random wooden door in a garden, & ring the bell”. After walking for a block or two, we found it.
There was no one outside. It was just a door. Us girls asked Oz to ring the bell. Shortly, the little peep hole opened up, someone looked outside, asked us who invited us! & then closed the door & let us in.
Wow! As soon I walked in, I was taken back. I looked at Gabi, & just BEAMED. We have been looking for a swanky place for ages now! A little hole in the wall jazz club. Swoon Swoon Swoon!
We were asked to sign in & read the house rules. I don’t recall all the rules, just to “speakeasy” & “if a man comes up to greet you, gently raise your chin & look away”. Super cute. The host walked us back to our booth, we had a party of 8, so it was a huge booth, we were all seated comfortable. The table in the booth, is actually a series of smaller interlocking tables at different heights. The booth was made out of the silkiest, smoothest leather (or faux leather?) There were privacy curtains. Red lighting. Candles. Are you ready…? Jellyfish tanks!
The setting is completely original, surprisingly intimate, and has a really laid-back vibe. I asked the host when entering how many people they could set, since upon entering it looked like a pretty small place. They said they can seat up to 75 & do rent out the place for private parties, they also have a *huge* booth for parties of 15+.
The food was amazing. We had ordered between this eight of us- 2 orders of truffle popcorn… Omg! It was delicious- popped in truffle oil, w/ garlic & other seasonings sprinkled on top -we all loved it, fries that are fried in duck fat served with garlic something? (compote?) & tamarind ketchup… YUM. Cheese fondue, which I only tried a bit of but was also divine. Dark chocolate fondue… served w/baby churros, fresh mango, kiwi, strawberries, peaches… fresh oysters & scallops… I’m not a seafood fan at all, but everyone who tried it said it was the best they’ve ever experienced.
The drinks were amazing. Everything is made “classically” -They use fresh, muddled fruit to craft customized, gourmet drinks, revived specialty cocktails from the early 20th century, & the bartenders will make you just about anything you ask for. The bartender, George was the most knowledgeable bartender I’ve ever experienced & a genuine conversationalist. (It does help that he was wearing a vest & his sleeves were rolled up & complimented Gabi on her “extraordinarily refined palate!” & said he could make me fall in love w/ my most despised liquor…. gin!) My first drink was named the “lycee love hotel”, I was a bit nervous about it because it had mint in it, but it was amazing & fresh. There were many drinks, I’m not sure I could remember them all, but the other drinks that really stood out was the rum sour (made with real lemon juice & egg whites instead of the run-of-the-mill sweet & sour most bars use!! Cocktail revival!) & a drink that was sweet & milky w/ habanero pepper… a kick but was so nice to sip on.
I have not one negative comment about this place! As soon as Gregg gets home, I’m taking him there…stat! (Oh, & everyone else I know.) Go now!
(All pictures come from another amazing review which you can read here.)
The apartment is a complete mess. From my seat on the couch, with last.fm playing, I see:
-Blankets/bed stuff from Jon sleeping on the couch.
-Bottle of Sriracha & noodle soups I bought for Gregg at the Asian market in Brandon w/ Jen, Orson & Jon.
-Wrapping paper & ribbon scraps from the diaper cake I made for Regina’s baby shower.
-Empty Brita on the kitchen counter.
-Half empty jar of dill pickle cashews.
-Cast-off camping supplies from Gregg heading out to summer camp.(flashlight/sleepingbag/towels/etc…)
-Settlers of Catan box sitting in the middle of the living room.
-Empty box if tissues from Jon being sick.
-Half drank mug of tea from last night…just…sitting there.
Two weekends ago, our friend from Tennessee, Matt, came to visit again. Last week (Wednesday till this morning) Jon came from Connecticut. I’ll have to share pictures soon. Went to Busch Gardens for Gregg’s companies Family fun day w/ Jon, Marissa, Doug, Josh, Josh ++ So much more, tonight I am utterly exhausted. I had planned on getting home & cleaning like a mad lady. I grabbed Taco bus (ughhhfattymcfatterson) & just vegged while watching True Blood. (Missed last night’s ep.) Catching up all on the blogs. Work was relatively decent, I blame it on starting the day w/ a venti iced Americano. This week, I am seeing The Smashing Pumpkins (yes, my *first* time seeing them, holy moly excite!) on Wednesday, #EpicThanksTampa meeting Thursday, & gym gym gym any other day. Oh & sharing everything that went on the past two weeks here. Bedtime starts… now.
Melissa at Oh my Darling is hosting a Surprise Ball exchange. It’s based on “suprise balls” made my Gina Namkung.
I posted a few weeks ago about surprise balls made to look like bombs & in lieu of posting 500 images of cute surprise balls, go sign up here!! I signed up last week, & registration ends July 22nd. I’m really excited, I love little, cute trinkets. Let me know if you end up signing up! :) & I will make sure to show pictures when it’s all over!
I guess I really like “challenges”. Saturday evening I told Gregg I could make a better pizza then him. The only rule is that we each could only spend ten dollars. Here’s what we came up with.
These are my ingredients; potatoes, broccoli, pancetta, mozzarella cheese, garlic & milk. I decided to roll my pizza up & then cut into slices & bake them in a pan. Here’s my finished product.
It was really good. I loosely based my around this recipe for mashed potato pizza. You used garlic mashed potatoes as the “sauce” layer. If I made this again, I’d have some sort of dipping sauce, or make the crust thinner. It was so starchy.
Gregg’s ingredients were brie, prosciutto, basil, and roasted garlic. (He used the silicone cupcake/muffin pan to roast them in the oven.)
& here is his finished delicious pizza;
His pizza defiantly won. All of his ingredients melted in your mouth; he took the roasted garlic & used the “paste” as his “sauce”. Thin layers of prosciutto & brie, & topped w/ basil just after it was out of the oven. So good!
If you were to make pizza, what would you put on your perfect pizza?
I think thanks to Iris I’ll be calling my image/link dump this. (Thank you!)
Today is awesome!
My raise kicks in on this paycheck! Woot! :D :D
Twilight was canceled last night; rescheduled for tonight -YES!
Tacobus Tweetup was intense w/ heavy rain, but turned out well & post taco drinking = win!
& It’s Friday!
& My weekend is packed with fun!
& I may (fingers crossed) have Monday off!
I guess I’m on a huge recycling kick. Here is tin cans mosaiced (is that a word) w/ foam!
Cheap & looks amazing.
Another recyclable -Panties from old t-shirts!
I am always looking for ideas to upcycle tees since I have a boat load of shirts I no longer wear
& I get tons of free shirts from events that are XL or bigger.
I am going to a party for the 4th,
& was looking for recipes so I could bring some yums… This is way too cute!
I wish I could find that cupcake pan,
anyone else hate transporting cuppies?
It seems I’m really in a crafty kick lately. Now if I just got off the net & starting making stuff! I’ll be updating tomorrow about how my Twenty Challenge ends! TGIF!
Okay. So my hair was flat. I was twenty minutes late to work, yesterday morning was crazy. The A/C was broken at work -It was 86 degrees from when I got there at 10am till 2pm. Everyone had left work till the repairmen had fixed the unit, but you know, one person has to stay to “watch over” the office or something. I had posted on twitter that I looked like a hot mess, people asked for pictures. I drew myself. (The coffee was made prior -One sip & I had to stop drinking, too hot!)
Anyways, after work I headed over to Tampa Bay Brewing Company for the Social Media Day with Mashable Meetup. I met up with my friend Joe, and at the door, another good friend, Oz, saw we had been tweeting about it and joined us! Super stoked! After saying hi to a few people we headed to the bar, and got beer. I just asked for the wimpiest beer since I’m not much of a connoisseur. (Happy hour $4 + $1 tip = -$5) I had brought mini bottles of rum in my purse. I was trying to think smart! Anyways, diet coke is free & purse booze is some serious win.
Gregg showed up an hour or so later, I was so happy to be around everyone. I’m glad to have been able to spend time with Lee & Gil… & get to know them better finally! They are a super cute couple, & have great personalities. I am looking forward to seeing them again & going to concerts. We went to Mema’s Alaskan Taco’s & got yummy food & then headed to the after-after party @ New World Brewery. Drank PBR (Thanks to Gregg, woot!) & told Joran that I’d win next week with foursquare. We bet $20. Joran is always the top out of all my foursquare friends, I’m going to have to be busy next week. It will help that I have a friend coming in town. Muhaha ;)
After that, a few of us party people got pizza (Yay Gregg!) & heckled passerby’s. Moved my car to the garage & we headed home.
That makes my 4 day total -$5.79. $14.21 left. I am going to the Tacobus tonight (Come out come out!) & to see Eclipse. (You know, support my husband’s acting career… RPatz) I’m going to go out on a limb & say I think I am going to fail. I think the movie’s $9 tickets is what will kill me. We shall see -I don’t do well with defeat!
I’ll leave you with another winning picture Tony decided to take:
I’m down 79 cents; I needed chicken broth for last nights dinner. $19.21 left for the week. I’m quite nervous about tomorrow night, & VERY nervous about Thursday night as I am going to eat burritos (I think $5-6?) & going the movies. (Eclipse – Ehh… $8-9?) So, that’s $15 out of my $20 & $1 is practically gone. -That means no drinking at the brewery tomorrow! Ah! That’s the *real* challenge! I’d call off the movies, but that would be a jerk move. I can do this… I can do this…
Over the weekend I made a list of a few things I wanted to do/complete before 2010 ends. One of them was to save $5,000. I had originally planned to save $10,000 for 2010, I think I may have been aiming far too high. Or, I am just terrible with saving money. I’m pretty lucky in the sense that my only bills are car insurance, gym membership & gas/tolls. The bank I use (Bank of America) has a pretty cool system where it makes a chart of how you spend your money – Here is mine since Jan. 1st:
“Other” was listed as:
Travel (Hotels&Tolls)
Home Maintenance (Ikea & Dry Cleaners)
Personal Care (Gym)
Other Expenses (Paypal)
Entertainment (Movies/Museums/Redbox)
Automotive Expenses (Oil changes/Driver’s license)
Clothing/Shoes
Hobbies (Micheal’s)
Charitable Giving (Some thrift stores/Donating)
Telephone Services (This seems to be withdraw fees & web hosting?)
Service Charges/Fees (Monthly fees)
Home Improvement (Lowes/Home Depot…garden)
Electronics (Apple store)
Online Services (Gregg Bday gift)
Utilities (Walmart?!)
Cable/Satellite Services (Tolls?)
Anyways, all this equals I spend a ton of money. So, I’ve set myself $20 for the week (Monday-Friday). This may be kinda tricky since I am attending the Mashable Meetup Wednesday, the Tacobus Tweetup Thursday & seeing Eclipse that evening. I have a full tank of gas, so that’s good, although usually I fill up again mid-week. (I drive 45mins each way to work) Tolls are automatically taken out of my bank account; so I am just going to not drive toll roads…which adds mileage. I’m not sure how I’ll work that all out.
Anyways, this will be a fun game for the week. I’ll post everyday how I’m doing. Itemized lists & all. I asked Gregg not to pay for anything for me, so I can’t cheat.
Today I am at $0, since I just drink coffee (work has a machine & beans) & I bring a refillable bottle of water. I usually eat breakfast at home, skip lunch & eat dinner at home. Thankfully, since last week was all wacky busy, I still have a ton of groceries left over. :)
Okay, I’ll report back tomorrow!
Ps. This font is pissing me off lately, I think I am going to change it. It randomly spaces out weird & makes it hard to read. & it doesn’t bold <b> or <strong> it’s all funky.
Pps. Does ANYONE know how to make my blog posts show full size in readers? I hate that truncates it. I’ve reset my feed burner & set “show full text”. I am completely lost, please help! Sos!
(All photos by 
That is the biggest smile of complete awesomeness happening in front of you
Burn her!! Demon!!! LASER EYES!!!1one
