a few things that brighten my school-dominated, stressful day:
One of those will hopefully make you smile too!
Post originally written 12/5:
Tomorrow is C’s birthday! The big (but not old at all!) 3-0! I’m planning surprises that he hopefully still doesn’t know about, though when I visited his restaurant last night, everyone seemed to know what was up already! Shh shh!
Dinner with friends is planned for tonight so more people can make it, especially out-of-towners who have to work on Monday, but I’m unfortunately finding out exactly how much C hates surprises! I told him awhile ago that I wanted to take him to dinner tonight but it might take some convincing to get him to come now– I really hope it’s worth it and he has lots of fun!
Anyway, I only have my shitty camera phone to document the process today (my regular camera charger is MIA), but I’ll do my best. Now, watch me attempt to get all of this done by 3pm-ish when some of his friends from out of state are due to arrive!
1. Baking: Black- & Blueberry Brownies (thanks to Veganomicon, though I made things more interesting by adding blackberry jam), 2 batches. I highly recommend this recipe, I got great feedback! The brownies taste much better after they’ve cooled and settled than when they’re warm.
Using the stove AND the oven!
The batter:
The baking: Check out the blindingly angelic light emitted from my perfect oven! Evenly baked foods! What a dream…
2. Cleaning
Ok, this resulted in dusting, shoving boxes and books in my room, adding more seating in the living room in case people come over, and doing about 3 loads of baking dishes. Bought swiffer pads but forgot to borrow the actual swiffer…
3. Research and Writing- Yup, school is still a looming threat. Two papers, 1 test, and a presentation to go! A friend gave me two additional novels that might work well in the big research paper but that means I have to read them! Aahhh!
4. Present wrapping and card-making
Lucky birthday boy is getting a comfy robe & an awesome Isis poster designed by Seldon Hunt… C was checking them out awhile ago and I really liked this one… selfish? Maybe a little. The orange in the background is more vivid in real life, and when it’s in a place of our own I’d like to be able to work it into the design scheme.
Click the poster image for a link to the site from where I ordered it… they’re awesome and helped me out with helpful emails when I had problems with the first attempt at ordering. I love good customer service!
Edited 12/7:
Overall the day was great! I did a poor job of keeping him at home so our NC friends could surprise him there, and we spent awhile as moving targets with them trying to catch us on our errands… I kept stalling wherever we went and he started to catch on 
After NC friends arrived in a Starbucks, he was very surprised! They went to a craft fair for awhile and then we all met VA friends at Mekong, an awesome Vietnamese place. About 30 people came!
After the uncertainty of the surprise ended, C was having a great time- success!
Post-dinner we ate brownies and embarrassed the shit out of him by singing the “Happy Birthday” song loudly!
This morning we got brunch and watched the Eagles-Falcons game, ran some errands and went to the mall, where we both got incredibly frustrated after trying to shop for shoes. Chinese take-out and video games soothed the fury, and I passed out on the couch around 7pm! I needed the energy for today-thursday: the last of my papers are due and then I’m done!
Keep those fingers crossed for me!
Happy birthday, C! And thank you to anyone who came to dinner and showed him how lucky he is to have such great friends
Doing a little reading and eating…
My dinner: A vegan rendition of the British classic, bangers and mash, from Ipanema Cafe. Mashed celery root, vegan sausage, brussels sprouts in white wine and “butter” sauce, all covered in peppery and delicious gravy.
I figured I’d test out the new dish but had no idea how perfectly it would finish my incredibly stressful day. Plus I was stuffed! Definitely beat the bad coffee and energy bar I had for lunch.
No, I’m not pregnant. No, no, no. BUT, I have friends who are. Grosgrainfabulous, a blog I subscribe to with lots of crafty inspiration, dresses, kids’ clothes, etc. is having a Chubby Baby car seat cover giveaway!
If you too would like to win a pretty car seat cover for yourself or a worthy parent, click on the photo above!
So that’s the baby part, here’s the whining part:
Is it completely evident that I haven’t slept in well over 36 hours? I’m typing at about a 1 word/1 min rate. Due today were the following:
1. three tests (3 to 4 papers per test, 2-4 pages per paper): for Feminist Theory, Language Culture and Cognition, and Death and Burial classes.
2. 200+ pages of reading (Witherspoon: Navajo linguistic theory- soooo dryyy)
3. four non-test papers
4. one presentation (Was so nervous! Presented opinions on Tibetan Buddhist Sky Burials and the way they and other buddhist practices anchor the wishes-it-was-autonomous nation of Tibet to its people BUT the decreasing numbers of vultures in the Indian and East Asian mountain ranges [who eat the bodies of the dead in the Sky Burials- nom nom!] threaten to change centuries-old customs pivotal to the survival of that beautiful top-of-the-world pseudo-nation. Get through all that? Anyway, my professor was really encouraging and found it interesting, which is such a compliment)
One of my papers on one of the tests isn’t done yet- it was so poorly written around 4 or 5am, I was falling asleep while writing, and I love my professor and told her I’d take a grade cut to have the chance to re-do it.
But I’m pretty damn proud of myself! I haven’t snapped at strangers, cried, or felt seriously physically ill today either- though around 4am when I realized how much I still had to do, I nearly vomited. Like one of those Australian toads who vomits its organs when crushed so it doesn’t die- BLEGH. Pretty, huh? Better than posting images from my presentation of vultures eating a human!
Going to grab some amazing food from Ipanema Cafe for some real brain healing, then knock out this last paper, and grab a solid nap before some potential girl time. Looking very much forward to a few days off from classes, time to work on my research paper, and two Thanksgivings over 3 days!
Soon to come: Inspiration blog. Everyone’s been posting them and I’ll go ahead and share images I’ve been stockpiling for post-graduation creation.
Apologies for really, really tired rambling. You still reading this thing?
Arrived home this morning to find a beautiful new stove installed! It’s, as Nicole calls it, the iPod of stoves! Touch screen and glass top- mmm. Only wish I didn’t have to wait until after work to test it out!
Have a look:
Took a class today on identity, thought I might ask for some feedback- Even if you read this anonymously I think you can comment as such also, and I’d like to know what you think!
We mostly talked about virtual vs. public/physical identity- With so many people using Facebook, Myspace, online gaming systems like Playstation 3, etc., who is to say what or who we are? If you want to play Second Life as a male tiger who is outgoing but you are a shy girl in appearance and to your “IRL” friends- does that online tigerself define or impact you? What about deleting pictures of yourself doing kegstands because future bosses might see them? Or putting only party pictures of yourself online when really you spend most nights at home? In the class this extends further into the definition of gender, sexuality, race, etc.
A few people voiced that they felt presenting a false identity online, perhaps more closely representing who a person wanted to be rather than how one is currently perceived, is wrong. Are we open to the idea of multi-faceted personalities?
My linguistics class is focusing on differences in Eastern and Western language acquisition, as well as how individuals describe their personality. Frequently, Westerners will say something like “I am outgoing and I enjoy reading,” while Easterners might say, “At work I am hardworking, with my friends I am outgoing, and in school I am reserved.” The “selves” are divided. Is this fake? I most certainly act differently in different situations.
Tell me things!
I won’t write about school, so I’ll post a bit about anything besides school I’ve been involved in recently.
1. Good shows. Narrows and Trap Them played last night (along with other bands I missed, including one with a harmonica player) and I’m glad I decided to go! Promotion was terrible so hardly anyone was there, unfortunately.
2. Bad leasing companies. Mine is awful! I’m about to stop paying rent. Had a meeting with them 2 weeks ago, no show, no call, phones were turned off and mailboxes full. Same thing happened today when we agreed to meet and I called multiple times to confirm with no answer. Came home today to find the owner of the building in my kitchen and puddles on the floor (?). He’s trying to retire and “make me a deal” on the house though, so that could work out favorably in a few years.
3. New roommate. Nicole came to visit! After many online chats and a facebook friendship (as well as many wonderful real-life mutual friends), I felt confident we’d get along well but I hadn’t yet met her, so it was a big relief to do that before she actually moved into my house!
4. Dollar taco night. $5 for three tacos and some gross rice, but great company as well as the opportunity to see a bunch of friends there as well. Heard the story of two (now-married) friends’ first awkward meeting- pretty adorable.
5. School. I lied, I will blog about school. It’s impossible to not think about at this point. My biggest paper is partially due tomorrow at 11am, my fingers are cramping, and all this girl wants to do is sleep! Caramel popcorn cakes with peanut butter will hopefully fuel a few more hours of work. I considered coffee, but it’s been confirmed that I’m already a wee bit tweaked.
I apparently need to see the show “Community” – watch this clip
I spend a lot of time in the library and could really use some study raps like this. Study ladies, if you read this, can somebody give me a beat?
Classwork has put a significant delay on the opening of my shop, as well as plans for home DIYs, but with 30 days until my graduation, I can handle it! I’m actually trying to hold off on home improvements until things quiet down a bit. My current roommate is moving into a place w/cheaper rent so she can save to go back to school, I’ll be moving into her room (with attached craft room for Etsy!), and the new roommate will take my room. It’s hard to put time into a place that I don’t own, so, like many renters, I’m trying to collect ideas for portable DIYs. I will say that my leasing company understands that by painting and updating my place I’m increasing its value, so I’m reimbursed for materials.
A few fall-themed ideas to share:
(Click the photos to see the origin site)
1. Vividly colored plates
Bright dishes, pots, and pans like these from Lorena Barrezueta remind me of my Great-aunt. My family and a group of lifelong friends usually gather at my her house in Cleveland for Thanksgiving where the focus is FOOD. I usually eat in shifts, alternating between eating huge portions and napping. Before leaving I, my siblings, and my dad squeeze out the door for a walk to the train tracks, and hopefully it’s snowing. My gymnast sister always wins the contest to see who can balance on the tracks for the most heel-to-toe steps.
2a. Nature
Nothing’s easier than sticking some pine cones in a bowl, but it looks classy. A fellow Apartment Therapy fan submitted this idea. Gives me an excuse to go to the park… Plus it looks better than potpourri, of which I am not a big fan.
2b. Fake Nature
Not so into parks, walking, fresh air, tree sap or organic items in your home (I’m joking, maybe you want something more permanent)? Try these ceramic pine cones from Coe and Waito. Check out the site for ceramic acorns too! It would also be nice to spray a little sealant and then some white/sparkly/metallic paint on pine cones. At least I imagine that would work, I would probably be lazy and skip the sealant.
3. Candles + DIY
I love candles and old-timey things like cross-stitch, so a candle like these will probably end up in my house as soon as I find time to stencil tiny, tiny lines on a glass cup. Click the photo for Martha Stewart’s how-to on the matter- she has a template.
P.s. I LOVE YOU, MARTHA.
4. Non-Cheesy Centerpiece
I want to use artichokes for flowers as often as possible, so I like the idea of immortal artichokes from Pottery Barn. $24 for 5? Seems a little much for my broke ass… but I’ve spent far more on things far less lovely. This is turning into a lot of negativity about these artichokes, but that box is a little too much forced rustic-icity (new word) for me. I’d probably opt for glass…
5. “Vintage” teal
A fellow Young House Love blog reader wrote to them that she hates the color of her walls in this room, but I love them! I wish she would post the paint color and type. I’ll go ahead and say that I’m not into the blinding golden yellow walls and bright purple furniture predicted to be the “big trends” for fall decor (via Washington Post). This room would be a dream craft room color, especially coupled with those built-ins. Do you know how amazing my house would be if I owned it (and was obscenely rich)?
Time to get back to the books! Please post your holiday decor ideas!
A very full morning of flea marketing, punctuated by doritos and coffee, followed by an afternoon of vintage & misc. stores has me worn out & not wanting to drive back to Richmond tonight! Found it hard to confidently spend money without a running store, but at least I’m doing good pricing research. Will post photos of purchased wares when not posting from my tappitytap iPod touch!
Glad for a soon-to-be scarfed down dinner at some friends’ house: mock chicken & veggie pot pie. Glad also that one of our hosts has an art degree and has offered great advice in my latest interests, paper-making & book-binding! Craft dates soon to come!
May try to sneak in a nap…
