Cupcakes!

I love, love, love cupcakes. There is a great shop on Belmont called Saint Cupcake that is dedicated solely to the making of scrumptious cupcakes. On days where it just feels like a treat is needed, I head there.

Today, I felt like making my own scrumptious treats. In an effort to remain plastic-less, I had to make them from scratch (both cake box and frosting container make use of the dreaded plastic). I again referred to the greatest baking book there ever was: Baking Illustrated, by Cook's Illustrated.

Here's how they turned out! (I added the doily for a fancy effect.)

Vesty vest

I've been wanting a black vest for awhile now, but the vests that I would try on where not quite right. Some were too puffy, some were bulky around the shoulders yet tight around the waist, and others were only available in white (white outerwear is just a bad idea). I had an idea in my head as to what this vest would look like. It needed to be feminine and also outdoorsy. I finally found the vest, but the price was around $200. (See below)



At one point in my life I would have dropped that, but I no longer have the talent to justify spending money in that fashion. So, being crafty I thought I might be able to make one for myself and I might even be able to do it using thrifted fabric. I started by cruising the local Goodwill (Broadway). There were some great options there. I landed on this sweater, then took off to Fabric Depot to get some coordinating fabrics and notions.



After all the fabrics were found, I just needed a pattern. I pulled a jacket out of my closet that had some similar design details along with a wonderful fit. I then pulled out another jacket that has a hood that actually functions. Using tracing paper I traced the pieces of each jacket that I wanted to copy. Then I started in on the hard part--making sure each pattern piece would work with the others. This part of the project took the longest.

Once the pattern pieces were ready to go, I started cutting. It's always nerve racking to cut into something that already functions (like the sweater). I almost didn't, because I had started to grow attached to the idea of owning a frumpy sweater to wear around the house. I hemmed and hawed about it for a day or two before I took the plunge. In hindsight I'm glad I went for it. It added the perfect touch to my vest. Check it out!

Plastic-less

I am trying to live plastic free. I've always thought of plastic as bad and wasteful, but I have also used it without a flinch of guilt. I suppose that is the result of being raised in a disposable culture. Now, I am trying to live without it.

Unfortunately, it is everywhere. Upon opening my reliable cardboard box of Cheerios, I discovered a plastic bag and a plastic Guitar Hero toy (loads of fun). I had teriyaki chicken for dinner the other night and it came to me in a plastic take out box along with a plastic fork. It is hard to live plastic free.

I am uniting with a group of people to live plastic free for three months. Knowing that they might be living successfully without plastic draws me to believe that I too can do it. I am no where near successful right now, but I want to keep working at it and try to make it a sustainable change in my life; hopefully one that lasts behond the three month commitment.

One thing I've learned is that it is difficult to buy bread packaged in anything but plastic (excepting artisan bread, which does not work well for PB&J). So, I am making my own bread. Last night I made bread sticks to accompany dinner and today I made a loaf of buttermilk bread (thank you Cook's Illustrated). Here is a picture of the beautiful loaf of bread. I'm so proud. One less piece of plastic consumed.

Yoda in Paris

I have been home sick and stuck on the couch for the better part of this week. It follows to reason that I might be a bit out of my mind. On several occasions I've tried to convince others that I was not sick, so I might leave the couch and be with the real people, but to no avail. I am sick and it is not disguisable.

Today I am on the couch again fiddling with my blog (that I've been neglecting), and in my current state of sanity I thought it best to expose the follies of the day. One such folly is of my cat; whose apparently been to Paris (without my foreknowledge). I think Yoda looks quite dapper in his sailor suit.

I also took a facebook quiz today and decided not to publish the results. The quiz lets you know which Jane Austen character you are most like. I've always wanted to be like Elizabeth Bennet. So, I should have been excited when the 7 question quiz decided that I was indeed like her, but I was too frustrated by the quizzes non-manipulative format to feel anything about its ability to define me. I couldn't figure it out and had to just answer honestly. I like knowing the format then being able to choose whether to answer honestly or in an effort to reach the results I desire. I felt off my game to not be able to dicifer a simple 7 question personality quiz.

I need to be around real people....

Little Beastie.

Our cat is part siamese. He looks like he should be elegant and a bit snoody, but truth be told he's a little off. Right now he's perched on the back of the couch looking out the window as a ship's captian might look out towards the horizon. He does this sort of thing; tricking me into looking at him as a cat and not the silly beast he is.

In the time it has taken me to describe the previous scene, he has already done several things to make me shake my head at him and feel a tiny bit sorry for his sweet little efforts towards being a real cat. In my head he's like Pinocchio, always wanting to be a real boy. The selfish part of me, the part that likes to laugh at him, is glad that he hasn't been granted his wish by some merciful fairy.

I think he would be insufferable, like many cats are, if he didn't occasionally loose his balance and fall off the couch. I like that he has a nightly routine that he depends on us to keep or else he starts to loose it. He's our little man and whether it be the sexy poses he does by the door to convince us not to leave or that he follows us everywhere in the house (including into the bathroom) so he can simply be where we are, we love him.

I love that just a few minutes ago as he was cleaning himself he tipped over, like an invisible hand came up and shoved him. I love that when I laughed at him, he indignantly looked at me as if I had been the one to push him even though I was sitting across the room. He does stuff like this all the time, yet still tries to convince both Dave and I that he is sophisticated; as he is now, sitting like a gargoyle on our ship's desk. Precious little beastie.

Leave No Plastic Behind

Today's Project

I work at a child development center with infants and toddlers. One of the room's I oversee is embarking on an animal curriculum. I was inspired to bring in something new for them, so I went to the craft store and bought some felt (eco-fi, made from recycled plastic bottles) and played around for a bit. These masks are what I came up with... The designs are simple, to keep with the school's philosophy. Our learning materials are to be open-ended to promote each child's ability to create and imagine. There are no eye holes yet, because I'm not quite sure where to put them.