If this doesn't make you smile ... at least a little ... I don't know what to say. My amazing friend Jenn always knows what it takes to make me grin — especially on days like today when the weather outside really is frightful.
Monday, December 07, 2009
A smile, courtesy of my friend
If this doesn't make you smile ... at least a little ... I don't know what to say. My amazing friend Jenn always knows what it takes to make me grin — especially on days like today when the weather outside really is frightful.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Christmas card ideas
Every year I try to create a special Christmas card — they used to be newspaper themed — and this year I was planning on doing something inspired by Seattle. I went to my rooftop deck and attempted to take a skyline photo similar to the ones I saw on Christmas cards selling for $17.99 per box of 12 at the Hallmark downtown.
I could create this greeting card on my own, print them for less and include my own personal message inside. The problem: I don't have the photo equipment I used to have, so my little digital camera just wasn't bringing out the best in the photo. Then I realized I could buy the image for about $6 on a stock photography site.
Six bucks later, I own the photo above. The new problem: I just came up with what I think is a brilliant, more interactive and definitely much more "me" idea for this year's holiday greeting. So, you get to enjoy the photo above and sit wondering what will arrive in your mailbox soon ... unless I don't know you or don't have your address. In that case, you probably won't be getting the card ... unless you somehow get that address of yours to me in time for my mass mailing.
Until then, enjoy the Seattle skyline photo above. The Christmas tree of lights on top of the Space Needle is even more glorious in person. It certainly has put me in the spirit.
Friday, November 27, 2009
A traditional Midwest Thanksgiving ... almost
Thanksgiving never has meant that much to me. But I always seem to overdo it on the cooking, even though I sometimes feed just a handful of people — at most.
Yesterday, my friends Brad and Erika joined me for what I considered to be a mostly traditional Midwest Thanksgiving. Brad grew up in Michigan, where the holiday fare was similar to that of folks who lived in Kansas. That's where Erika and I were raised. The land of holiday "salads" made from a Cool Whip base. The only green in those "salads" was from the coloring of pistachio pudding mixed in with crushed pineapple and the thawed-out tub of Cool Whip.
While this Thanksgiving meal was void of Cool Whip — I actually made cinnamon whipped topping from heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and a dash of cinnamon — a few of the side dishes were the standard Midwest favorites.
As we sat around heaping plates of food, the three of us discussed the commonalities of our Thanksgiving offerings growing up. Green bean casserole made simply by combining a can of cream of mushroom soup with green beans and topping with French's crunchy onions. Check. Sweet potatoes right next to the mashed potatoes. Check. More desserts than anyone ever eats the rest of the year. Check. That crazy Jell-O "salad" filled with shredded carrots and topped with, yes, Cool Whip. Check.
My menu included the green bean casserole we all agreed was a favorite. I made stuffing that was pretty close to that my mom made when I was a child. I bought pre-made dinner rolls, made a pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole topped with a crunchy nut topping. No mashed potatoes, though it was tough for me to leave those out.
While I was used to having my cranberry sauce shaped like the tin can in which it was purchased, I opted for making the fresh stuff. I never knew it was so easy. I grabbed a bag of cranberries from Trader Joe's and mixed them in with a cup of orange juice and a cup of sugar. It was so much tastier than that canned business.
The star of my 2009 Thanksgiving feast, however, was the Tofurky. I have been a vegetarian for about seven Thanksgivings, and never before have I bought the meatless alternative to the big bird. It seemed ridiculous and, quite honestly, not the most appealing option. Usually an acorn squash stuffed with a wild rice and stuffing mixture would be my centerpiece.
But this year I thought it would be fun — funny, really — to cook my first Tofurky. What I didn't know is that it actually takes quite a bit of time to cook and prepare the vegan alternative. An hour and 25 minutes total cooking time. And that's after you prepare the baste and chop up some vegetables to cook alongside the Tofurky ball, which is only slightly larger than a softball. It serves five.
As a vegetarian, I thought I knew what to expect. So did my two non-vegetarian friends. This was going to be gross. But we could laugh about it. That's not at all how it turned out. I was shocked. The finished bird alternative tasted eerily like the real thing. The texture was a little more like that of a turkey TV dinner — when they were packaged in aluminum trays — but it was delicious.
Brad agreed. So did Erika. And that's saying something. Really.
You don't believe me, do you? You think Tofurky would be disgusting. Well, fix it just as it says on the side of the box, surround it with all of your favorite Midwest-inspired side dishes, and it will feel — and taste — just like every Thanksgiving you ever have had.
Yesterday, my friends Brad and Erika joined me for what I considered to be a mostly traditional Midwest Thanksgiving. Brad grew up in Michigan, where the holiday fare was similar to that of folks who lived in Kansas. That's where Erika and I were raised. The land of holiday "salads" made from a Cool Whip base. The only green in those "salads" was from the coloring of pistachio pudding mixed in with crushed pineapple and the thawed-out tub of Cool Whip.
While this Thanksgiving meal was void of Cool Whip — I actually made cinnamon whipped topping from heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and a dash of cinnamon — a few of the side dishes were the standard Midwest favorites.
As we sat around heaping plates of food, the three of us discussed the commonalities of our Thanksgiving offerings growing up. Green bean casserole made simply by combining a can of cream of mushroom soup with green beans and topping with French's crunchy onions. Check. Sweet potatoes right next to the mashed potatoes. Check. More desserts than anyone ever eats the rest of the year. Check. That crazy Jell-O "salad" filled with shredded carrots and topped with, yes, Cool Whip. Check.
My menu included the green bean casserole we all agreed was a favorite. I made stuffing that was pretty close to that my mom made when I was a child. I bought pre-made dinner rolls, made a pumpkin pie and sweet potato casserole topped with a crunchy nut topping. No mashed potatoes, though it was tough for me to leave those out.
While I was used to having my cranberry sauce shaped like the tin can in which it was purchased, I opted for making the fresh stuff. I never knew it was so easy. I grabbed a bag of cranberries from Trader Joe's and mixed them in with a cup of orange juice and a cup of sugar. It was so much tastier than that canned business.
The star of my 2009 Thanksgiving feast, however, was the Tofurky. I have been a vegetarian for about seven Thanksgivings, and never before have I bought the meatless alternative to the big bird. It seemed ridiculous and, quite honestly, not the most appealing option. Usually an acorn squash stuffed with a wild rice and stuffing mixture would be my centerpiece.
But this year I thought it would be fun — funny, really — to cook my first Tofurky. What I didn't know is that it actually takes quite a bit of time to cook and prepare the vegan alternative. An hour and 25 minutes total cooking time. And that's after you prepare the baste and chop up some vegetables to cook alongside the Tofurky ball, which is only slightly larger than a softball. It serves five.
As a vegetarian, I thought I knew what to expect. So did my two non-vegetarian friends. This was going to be gross. But we could laugh about it. That's not at all how it turned out. I was shocked. The finished bird alternative tasted eerily like the real thing. The texture was a little more like that of a turkey TV dinner — when they were packaged in aluminum trays — but it was delicious.
Brad agreed. So did Erika. And that's saying something. Really.
You don't believe me, do you? You think Tofurky would be disgusting. Well, fix it just as it says on the side of the box, surround it with all of your favorite Midwest-inspired side dishes, and it will feel — and taste — just like every Thanksgiving you ever have had.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Halloween costumes matter
There are a few things in life I tend to overanalyze: everything, everything and Halloween costumes.
I always have seen Halloween — my second-favorite holiday — as a chance to be competitive in a way that ends with my silently saying, "In. Your. Face!" Having the best Halloween costume is like winning the Super Bowl for me. I take enormous pride in having a Halloween costume that is extremely original, slightly (extremely) offensive and always gets a laugh from those around me.
This year, I will be in Florida for Halloween. And I only will know one person — my amazing friend Jenn — so I don't feel the need to use one of my ideas to impress the crowd. This year I will be pulling some things from my archive of Mardi Gras wigs and clothing to put together a less-than-original costume. Just something that will allow me to blend into the crowd. Plus, the last time Jenn and I spent Halloween together, we ended up never even putting on our Grey's Anatomy-inspired costumes. Aww, New Orleans.
My costume idea-generating sessions usually start with some events from the year in pop culture. I try to think of something people may or may not understand, but once they are told what the costume is they believe it to be clever.
My big idea for this year, while I'm not using it, was to make an old-school ghost costume by cutting two holes in a white sheet. Think Charlie Brown's The Great Pumpkin. I then was going to carry around a wheel-spun piece of pottery, finishing off my understated costume — the ghost of Patrick Swayze. It's a bit of a stretch, which is why I like the idea. Feel free to use it. Certainly, it will be better than all of the Kate Gosselin wigs you are bound to see. That is said to be the best-selling costume item of the year.
Pop culture influences many top costumes. I am sure you will see plenty of people carrying around eight toy dolls and portraying Octomom. Or maybe you will be at a party with Lady Gaga. Here's the recipe for that costume:
Lady Gaga Halloween Costume
1 blonde wig with severe bangs
Metal, orbital headpiece
Long, black fake eyelashes
Fishnet stockings
Tight-fitting outfit with huge collar and short skirt
Something that sparkles, shines or has lace
Pinch of crazy
Mix all ingredients, and top with pinch of crazy. Act bizarre all night. Serves 1.
Use this Lady Gaga recipe, or create one of your own for a fantastic Halloween this year. Just make sure you use these last few days to get everything together in advance. And know when to say when on the details. Because, if you're anything like me, it's five minutes before the party and you find yourself running around the mall looking for the thing that makes you go from second place to the guaranteed "In. Your. Face!"
I always have seen Halloween — my second-favorite holiday — as a chance to be competitive in a way that ends with my silently saying, "In. Your. Face!" Having the best Halloween costume is like winning the Super Bowl for me. I take enormous pride in having a Halloween costume that is extremely original, slightly (extremely) offensive and always gets a laugh from those around me.
This year, I will be in Florida for Halloween. And I only will know one person — my amazing friend Jenn — so I don't feel the need to use one of my ideas to impress the crowd. This year I will be pulling some things from my archive of Mardi Gras wigs and clothing to put together a less-than-original costume. Just something that will allow me to blend into the crowd. Plus, the last time Jenn and I spent Halloween together, we ended up never even putting on our Grey's Anatomy-inspired costumes. Aww, New Orleans.
My costume idea-generating sessions usually start with some events from the year in pop culture. I try to think of something people may or may not understand, but once they are told what the costume is they believe it to be clever.
My big idea for this year, while I'm not using it, was to make an old-school ghost costume by cutting two holes in a white sheet. Think Charlie Brown's The Great Pumpkin. I then was going to carry around a wheel-spun piece of pottery, finishing off my understated costume — the ghost of Patrick Swayze. It's a bit of a stretch, which is why I like the idea. Feel free to use it. Certainly, it will be better than all of the Kate Gosselin wigs you are bound to see. That is said to be the best-selling costume item of the year.
Pop culture influences many top costumes. I am sure you will see plenty of people carrying around eight toy dolls and portraying Octomom. Or maybe you will be at a party with Lady Gaga. Here's the recipe for that costume:
Lady Gaga Halloween Costume
1 blonde wig with severe bangs
Metal, orbital headpiece
Long, black fake eyelashes
Fishnet stockings
Tight-fitting outfit with huge collar and short skirt
Something that sparkles, shines or has lace
Pinch of crazy
Mix all ingredients, and top with pinch of crazy. Act bizarre all night. Serves 1.
Use this Lady Gaga recipe, or create one of your own for a fantastic Halloween this year. Just make sure you use these last few days to get everything together in advance. And know when to say when on the details. Because, if you're anything like me, it's five minutes before the party and you find yourself running around the mall looking for the thing that makes you go from second place to the guaranteed "In. Your. Face!"
Sunday, October 25, 2009
My continued obsession with Snow Patrol
For me, life has been good. I got a new job (yeah!), I got a new roommate (Brad) and I have been fortunate to see some pretty incredible entertainment recently. Among my favorites — OK, it has been the highlight of my year in entertainment — was catching Snow Patrol at The Paramount in downtown Seattle.
The concert was Oct. 14, and I have checked YouTube every day in hopes of being able to relive that night of incredible music. This seems to be the one time when cell phone recordings of the band are lost completely to the noise of the audience surrounding the recording device. I'm not sure why it matters, since I can listen to all of the music all of the time. I do own every CD. But there is something about knowing that is exactly how a song was performed when you heard it live. Because it is from when you heard it live.
And that's why, if not for the hours and hours of entertaining archival footage and humorous clips, YouTube remains a daily must-visit for me. Now, if I could just get some more folks from the Oct. 14 concert to post videos with stellar audio, I would be back in my happy YouTube place.
There is something about every single song Snow Patrol sings that just really hits home in some way or another. There is not one song on any album from the band that does not grab my attention. And I really would like to be able to have that night captured in a way where I instantly can call upon it for that deep-in-your-gut happy feeling.
Fortunately, I have been having a few of those in my life lately. I hope it continues.
The concert was Oct. 14, and I have checked YouTube every day in hopes of being able to relive that night of incredible music. This seems to be the one time when cell phone recordings of the band are lost completely to the noise of the audience surrounding the recording device. I'm not sure why it matters, since I can listen to all of the music all of the time. I do own every CD. But there is something about knowing that is exactly how a song was performed when you heard it live. Because it is from when you heard it live.
And that's why, if not for the hours and hours of entertaining archival footage and humorous clips, YouTube remains a daily must-visit for me. Now, if I could just get some more folks from the Oct. 14 concert to post videos with stellar audio, I would be back in my happy YouTube place.
There is something about every single song Snow Patrol sings that just really hits home in some way or another. There is not one song on any album from the band that does not grab my attention. And I really would like to be able to have that night captured in a way where I instantly can call upon it for that deep-in-your-gut happy feeling.
Fortunately, I have been having a few of those in my life lately. I hope it continues.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Fire drills taught me nothing
This morning I woke up to a sound different from my alarm clock. It was the fire alarm.
I had been having a really pleasant dream that involved me saying goodbye to my fellow sitcom cast members at the wrap party of our first season. Apparently I was starring in a sitcom that looked and smelled a lot like Saved By The Bell: The Midlife Crisis Years. Some of the original SBTB cast members were on the show, as well as a few random sitcom stars. But that was a dream, and this fire alarm was a reality.
I really needed to use the restroom. Isn't that the first thing you need to do when you wake up in the morning? So, I did.
Then I somewhat quickly put on my jeans, socks and shoes before surveying the apartment. I stared at the very laptop on which this blog is being written and left it behind. I grabbed my jacket — and wallet and keys and cell phone — and barreled down the stairwell to the bottom of the apartment. Right after I locked my front door.
Outside, I was met by a crowd of my neighbors and employees from the Trader Joe's on the first level. They all were standing right next to the building. The one that may have been on fire. So, I did the only logical thing and stood right there with them. A couple of times I considered crossing the street, a safer distance from this could-be tragedy. I never did.
It didn't appear there was an actual fire, though the fog outside my window could have been mistaken for smoke. Firetrucks — sirens a blazin' and brimming with firefighters — pulled up to the side of the building, right where we were standing. By this time I was certain there was not a real fire, but I still was annoyed I had not grabbed my laptop. At the very least.
My laptop is my link to the outside world. It has a lot of important documents saved on it, including all of my freelance work. Most of my files are not backed up. Not that it matters in this case, because I did not even take time to grab anything important to me. So, should a back-up drive or disc exist, it would have been left for the flames.
Within 10 minutes or so, it was determined some electrical box switch flipped itself or something. There was no fire and everyone was told they could climb the stairs back to their apartments. I immediately updated my Facebook status, and now I'm writing this.
Now, let's review my mistakes:
1. I took time to go to the bathroom inside a could-be burning building.
2. I carefully considered which pair of jeans should replace my pajama pants.
3. I put on socks. And tied my shoes.
4. I never put my hand on the door to make sure the fire was not directly on the other side.
5. I locked that door.
6. I stood right next to the building.
7. I don't have a back-up drive or disc, nor do I have plans on getting one. Still.*
I think those things, not even considering the chance for other mistakes I am certain I made, would not make my elementary school teachers happy. Fire drills must have been lost on me.
* This is not something you learn during school fire drills. It is something I am, one day, going to learn the very hardest way possible.
I had been having a really pleasant dream that involved me saying goodbye to my fellow sitcom cast members at the wrap party of our first season. Apparently I was starring in a sitcom that looked and smelled a lot like Saved By The Bell: The Midlife Crisis Years. Some of the original SBTB cast members were on the show, as well as a few random sitcom stars. But that was a dream, and this fire alarm was a reality.
I really needed to use the restroom. Isn't that the first thing you need to do when you wake up in the morning? So, I did.
Then I somewhat quickly put on my jeans, socks and shoes before surveying the apartment. I stared at the very laptop on which this blog is being written and left it behind. I grabbed my jacket — and wallet and keys and cell phone — and barreled down the stairwell to the bottom of the apartment. Right after I locked my front door.
Outside, I was met by a crowd of my neighbors and employees from the Trader Joe's on the first level. They all were standing right next to the building. The one that may have been on fire. So, I did the only logical thing and stood right there with them. A couple of times I considered crossing the street, a safer distance from this could-be tragedy. I never did.
It didn't appear there was an actual fire, though the fog outside my window could have been mistaken for smoke. Firetrucks — sirens a blazin' and brimming with firefighters — pulled up to the side of the building, right where we were standing. By this time I was certain there was not a real fire, but I still was annoyed I had not grabbed my laptop. At the very least.
My laptop is my link to the outside world. It has a lot of important documents saved on it, including all of my freelance work. Most of my files are not backed up. Not that it matters in this case, because I did not even take time to grab anything important to me. So, should a back-up drive or disc exist, it would have been left for the flames.
Within 10 minutes or so, it was determined some electrical box switch flipped itself or something. There was no fire and everyone was told they could climb the stairs back to their apartments. I immediately updated my Facebook status, and now I'm writing this.
Now, let's review my mistakes:
1. I took time to go to the bathroom inside a could-be burning building.
2. I carefully considered which pair of jeans should replace my pajama pants.
3. I put on socks. And tied my shoes.
4. I never put my hand on the door to make sure the fire was not directly on the other side.
5. I locked that door.
6. I stood right next to the building.
7. I don't have a back-up drive or disc, nor do I have plans on getting one. Still.*
I think those things, not even considering the chance for other mistakes I am certain I made, would not make my elementary school teachers happy. Fire drills must have been lost on me.
* This is not something you learn during school fire drills. It is something I am, one day, going to learn the very hardest way possible.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Creating for a cause
I recently began volunteering my time to assist with the branding and marketing efforts at Gilda's Club Seattle. The organization, named after the famous Saturday Night Live alum, offers support programs and classes for those touched by cancer — that's everyone, really.
This is a poster I quickly created for the upcoming Kai Leamer Night, which supports the Seattle clubhouse and scholarship fund for the club's annual essay contest for teenagers.
Even though I am just getting started with the organization, I am proud to support the efforts of such an incredible cause. The directors of the Seattle club are some top-notch individuals dedicated to making even the smallest difference in the lives of cancer patients, survivors and their families and friends.
If you're interested in getting involved, I encourage you to do a quick Gilda's Club search in Google to find a chapter near you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
