Aardvark Manifesto 2010
19:
What an awesome manifesto. :) Available here.
#PizzaOvenTweet
30:
Hey Tampa People!
Just a quick notice, after talking to a bunch of people on twitter it’s decided that we are all getting together at 6pm on Sunday at ThePizzaOven on Waters. I’ve never been, but have heard from multiple people that this place rocks. I’m excited to see everyone there! I’ll be bringing name tags so we call all be geeky together & write our twitter names!
Directions are here: http://bit.ly/9ovkeM
& Make sure to follow @ThePizzaOvenTPA
Christmas Random Floaty Thought Bits
28:
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?
A few of our close friends have children/are expecting soon. (Hey Jen!) Recycle old broken crayons (cray-ons? crowns?) into rainbow crayons! DIY bubble wands & solution?
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?
Restaurant: Ciro’s Speakeasy & Supper Club (Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa)
21:
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.)
Surprise!!
12:
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!
Random Floaty Thought Bits 1
02:
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?
Here’s a tute for super cute bookcases.
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!
TwentyChallenge/Day4
01:
Amber & Me at #TMMUP Social Media Day
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:
Burn her!! Demon!!! LASER EYES!!!1one
ps. I’d like to take a photo like this with Gregg & hangout with Amber with umbrellas like this.
Lisztomania
24:
Phoenix – Lisztomania
I want to make a post with a ton of random lists. This song popped into my head. I like it, I put it on a ton of burned CD’s for the car. ( “Lisztomania”, is a term to describe the massive public response to Franz Liszt’s piano performances. Liszt’s playing was reported to raise the mood of the audience to a level of mystical ecstasy. Admirers of Liszt would swarm over him, fighting over his handkerchiefs and gloves. Women would try to get locks of his hair, and whenever he broke a piano string, admirers would try to obtain it in order to make a bracelet. )
Sounds pretty crazy. Or, how any teenage girl gets about pop boys.
But, Lisztomania=Listomania ???
Things I could never put a price on:
- Kids being psyched to give high-fives.
- My families dachshund, Oliver, who lives with my mom.
- The feeling of waking up early on Saturday, & thinking it’s a weekday, realizing, and going back to sleep. :)
- Having my 87 year old Grandmother beat me in Rummy; repeat times in one sitting.
- My dad still calling me pet names, when I talk to/see him.
Things that always put me in an awesome mood:
- New shampoo & conditioner.
- Forehead kisses; given or received.
- Running around with a wand. Bonus awesome mood points if it jingles.
- Finding tops/bottoms at a thrift store that fit perfectly.
- Helping someone out & seeing them happier for it.
Stuff I’d put in my house if money was not an option:
- “Primo Quarto” bookshelves by Saba Italia
- The entire collection from resourcefurniture.com
- Monochromatic rooms. One color, each room. Obsessed over the apartment linked in the picture above!
- Mixture of polished concrete floors (Please! Click that link!) and wood flooring.
- The biggest, softest, enrapturing, 3 feet high of white linens bed. I want 15 pillows. I want to jump and disappear because I’ve sank into a huge cloud-like bed pile.
Things everyone loves, & I just don’t get it:
- Owls. I don’t get it.
- Men with vain-popping muscles; I hear women swooning over how “ripped” men are, blah. I like strength, but really? I don’t want to cuddle w/ a rock.
- Tans… -wrinkles, sagging skin, & sun spots… why?
- The whole thing that is too long to be a shirt, too short to be a dress things that you wear with leggings.
- 5 Guys Burgers & Fries, greasy, gross. Go to Burger Monger!
///aeb
Crafting
27:
Sometimes I worry that lurking the internet for crafts and following so many blogs (I am an addict; you have no idea!), that I lose my imagination and creativity along the way. I see items on the internet that I want to make! Then, I feel guilty for wanting to copy someones idea; when I could just by whatever they have crafted on Etsy. I want to support crafters! But, when the time comes, & I am lurking the aisles of Micheal’s, I just don’t… feel inspired. I’m thinking of other peoples amazing ideas.
Currently, I am decently “fluent” in:
- Sewing (Hand, Machine and Embroidery)
- Soap Making (Both Melt & Pour and Cold Process)
- Pottery (I am familiar with throwing clay & a wheel)
- Candle Making
- Quilting
- Pretty much all types of paper crafts (Origami, Decoupage, etc…)
- Resin inlays
- Wet Felting
- Stamp Carving
- Book Binding (v. novice! I can do little note pads and such, not amazing stuff like this)
- Knitting
- Crocheting
I would eventually like to:
- Build my own potter’s wheel, and kiln <3
- Earthenware
- Glass Fusing/Blowing
- Circut Bending
- Sterling Silver, everything. (Molds, Freeform…etc. )
- Precious Metal Clay
- Dry Felting
In Google Docs, I keep a crazy inspiration & links documents. Here is some stuff that I’ve been eyeing & inspiring me lately. All picture link to source!!
This week since Gregg’s been away on business, I have been cutting, braiding & sewing tee-shirts to make a braided rug for our place. I’m not sure where it will end up, but I’m thinking it would look cute on the patio! :) I have claimed the patio mine indirectly… with all the herbs/veggies/etc I am growing.
This is the idea of the rug I am making, just I chose to make it oval verse a circle. & mine has no colors, just black, white & grey.
What crafty bits have you been up to? Anything inspiring you lately? Any projects planned for this summer? Share!
Good Winter: loud as hope
23:
Link: Good Winter: loud as hope
“It’s resistance failing and the words feel nice inside my head. your name feels nice inside my head. I have yet to kick the habit of you. So, could you ever come slip back under me? If you ever made it easy. I would. I know you’re there. I haven’t killed the habit and this has become my only fix. my love is a ghost that fits my skin. there are remnants still in my bloodstream. it’s enough and never enough.”
