Lazy Gertie

I'm feeling so lazy! We went to my parent's house over the weekend-- Ryan and I were supposed to go to my 14 year high school reunion (don't ask) which was just tailgating before the homecoming football game, but I chickened out THEN Ryan couldn't go anyway and ended up dropping me and Q off at my parent's house and heading to Beaners to utilize their wi-fi and do some emergency brief-correcting for work. I am sure I would have known everyone there (I only graduated with 130 some kids), but none of my friend friends were going, and maybe if I were feeling hotter and thinner and not so "mom-like" (how shallow), I would have gone. Off topic, Beaners is changing their name to The Big B due to the um, racial connotation. Just a lil' tidbit for you.


Ok, so to the lazy part. I got like 9 to 10 hours of sleep each night I was there. Last night I went to bed at 9:30. This thing in my gut is sapping my energy. I haven't had energy to blog or to craft-- nothin! I have, however, watch a lot of movies and tv shows like The Descent (scary!), Prison Break (suspenseful!), How I Met Your Mother (funny!), and Big Bang Theory (stupid!). Never too lazy to sit in front of the boob tube.


More weekend stuff-- Saturday, we met friends at a pub for 2 buck draft beers and of course I did not partake. The kids ran amok (speaking of this, see below). Saturday night, my mom and I whipped Ry and my Dad's arses in Sequence. That sentence sounded less dorky in my head. Sunday, we went out to a farm and had cider and donuts.



More sleep is in the future (mmmmmmmm). I can't believe it's already here! Our Q-free vacation in the Twin Cities for my friend, Lisa's, wedding. Thanks so much to my new friends in the St. Paul Craft Mafia for telling me what's what. Especially Oona from Run Amok. I love her name, I love her Etsy shop name, and I love her stuff. And she seems so sweet! I'm so excited to shop Crafty Planet, I could almost pee my pants. Ryan has a tight lunch and dinner schedule with reservations in place. We're staying at a pretty hip hotel, so that's nifty too.


So I'm sure there won't be much action this week, but I promise to get on the blog writin'/craft makin' stick as soon as I get back. But for now, Lazy Gertie is going to go watch Tivo'ed Prison Break.

Candy-Colored Twine

I was very pleased to read Sondra's comment on a previous post that Martha decided to take pity on us and allow us to use our 40% coupon at Michael's. Sure enough, it was true! I had to take advantage. And actually even used a Joann's coupon there to get this so-sweet twine.

Perfect Girl Land colors (well, except the yellow was missing)!

*Insert Maniacal Laugh Here*

Have I told you how much I love Halloween??? I do, I do, I do! Well, not as much as a co-worker who got married on Halloween in costume (she's now divorced), but pretty darn close. Did you know that it's only 41 days away? I've been buying things left and right to make some Halloween projects, but just have been too lazy to start. So I just made something little tonight...it's in my Etsy shop. It looks so cute across my fireplace, so I won't be *too* sad if it doesn't sell.

My friend, Dave, also bought some bags o' stuff at the last flea market we hit. He rifled through the bags and gave me a few odds and ends he thought I might appreciate. This guy being one.

He really scares the poop out of me. I believe he's daydreaming of chocolate treats. Or drinking my blood, I'm not sure. I think he will look smashing in a mini Halloween diorama, no? I picked up some black tinsel trim at my favorite dollar store today to line said diorama and also to adorn some treat pails.

Oh, one more thing to round out my Halloweenish post. I was birthday shopping for my niece today at Borders, and I came across some books I remember fondly from grade school by Alvin Schwartz, however I will NOT be getting them for her because they were rather disturbing (they would probably even disturb YOU, I'm not kidding), but I may end up buying them for myself. Last year, I bought Q a book called Tailypo that I loved as a kid, but I will wait a few more years before I freak her out. It's about a man who chops off a creature's tail, and the creature will not rest until he gets it back...even though it's in the man's stomach!!!! Wait for it.........MWAAHHHAA HAA HAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....

**I'm so excited! The lovely Naomi bought my banner! I will have another in my shop in the next few days in case anyone is interested**

Cinematic Couture

We decided to venture to our higher end mall today. We haven't been there in awhile, but over the past 6 years, all but 2 of our Crate and Barrel drinking glasses have bit the dust typically due to a tragic cycle in our dishwasher. Anywho, we decided high time to replace them. Good timing! My mother emailed me last night to inform me of their Cinematic Couture event at the mall. Being the celebrity junkie I am, this was right up my alley. I don't know how I hadn't heard of it.

It was fun, but the only dress I was REALLY excited to see was one Gwyneth Paltrow wore in Emma. Emma is one of my fave movies-- one that I could (and have) watch"(ed) over and over again. They also had costumes from Sense & Sensibility which is another "over and over" movie for me, but they were not as lovely as Ms. Paltrow's. There were also costumes from Phantom of the Opera (which were beautiful!), Miss Potter, Evita, Becoming Jane, Ever After, etc. You cannot believe how small those women are! Gads. Something fun on a lovely fall afternoon anyway.

More food preparation tonight. I don't know what's come over me! No, it was very simple and yummy and light. Roasted Apple Salad with Pecans from BHG for a late dinner tonight. I just received my Better Homes yesterday, and I was roped in by all the yummy-sounding apple recipes! Cheddar soup with apples and potatoes? Comfort food! I can't wait to try that next.

The salad turned out great, and I don't know why I don't use butter lettuce more often. We

usually use a spring green mix, but I really don't like raddicchio. I would have added some crumbled stilton though if we'd had any. It could have stood for a little bit of cheese. Again with the bad pictures:


Here is the recipe:

3 fuji apples, halved and cored

1T butter

3 T packed brown sugar

3 T pecans, chopped finely

1/4 cup canola oil (I used olive)

1/4 cup apple cider

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 T honey

6 cups butter lettuce or mesclun greens

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine oil, cider, vinegar, honey in container, stir and shake. Place halved apples on foil lined baking sheet. Brush with butter, top with brown sugar and pecans. Bake 15 minutes. Arrange lettuce on plate and divide up apples on top. Voila! It's supposed to make 6 servings, but Ryan and I wolfed all 6 down between the two of us. We were starving, and it was light! I went light on the butter (I only used half) and same with the dressing. You probably could use less oil too.

Saw another movie tonight! Fracture with Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling. Eh, it was ok. Entertaining for sure and kept my interest. And I love both AH and RG. I kept waiting for AH to tell RG he was going to eat his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! xo

Fried Chicken Apple Tarts

I brought in Maple Glazed Breakfast Apple Tarts to work this morning. My photos leave a bit to be desired (they look like rectangular fried chicken). In fact, these pictures are REALLY grossing me out. As I’ve shared before, I rarely cook or bake, but this is one of maybe 5 things I don’t mind making. I can *almost* make them without a recipe. They really are good...really!

Anyway, I brought them in because I was featured in our monthly employee newsletter along with the recipe, so one of my co-workers (no joke) demanded they be brought in. Dang! I baked them last night and warmed them up this morning, so they were all gooey and warm. I, on the other hand, could not even look at them because I was nauseous…

Yes, my bloggy blog friends, Girl Land must make room for another wee citizen. I am not very far along, and when Ryan told me we should probably refrain from telling too many people, I told him to stick it. I gotta big mouth, and I gotsta be me. If something happens (knock on wood), I’ll tell you that too. I’m due in early May.

So now I’m just counting down to the date I can find out the sex (probably around Xmas). As I’m looking at my calendar, it’s sickening. We have something planned for 10 of the 13 weekends between now and Christmas. GADS. Fun things though-- Vacations, reunions, more vacations, birthday parties (Quinn will be having two this year, one for each side of the family… long story), etc.


Oh, in case you are interested, here is the recipe for the tarts. That’s my breakfast/brunch staple when we have guests: the tarts or Krusteaz blueberry scones, Adell’s Chicken Apple Sausage and fresh fruit.


Mapleglazed Breakfast Apple TartsRecipe Courtesy of Gourmet Magazine

8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 medium Empire, Gala, or Golden Delicious apples
1/4 cup granulated sugar
17 1/4 ounce package (2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 large egg, beaten lightly with 1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup pure maple syrup

In a small bowl stir together cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Peel, halve, and core apples and cut into 1/4 inch slices. In a bowl toss apples with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface roll 1 sheet puff pastry into a 15 by 11 inch rectangle. From a long side, cut four 1/3 inchwide strips. From a short side, cut two 1/3 inchwide strips. Set pastry strips aside. Halve lengthwise what remains of rectangle and put halves on a baking sheet. Just inside pastry rectangles' edges, brush 1/3 inchwide borders of egg wash, reserving remaining egg wash. Arrange pastry strips on borders so that they are flush with edges of rectangles, trimming strips to fit. Spread creamcheese mixture inside borders on rectangles and top with apples. On a lightly floured surface roll remaining puff pastry sheet into a 14 by 10inch rectangle and halve lengthwise. Cut several 2 1/2 inch diagonal slits down middle of each rectangle (do not cut within 1-inch of edges). Brush pastry borders of appletopped tarts with some remaining egg wash and top each with 1 pastry rectangle. Press edges gently but firmly together to seal. Brush remaining egg wash over pastry tops and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake tarts in middle of oven 30 minutes, or until puffed and golden. In a small saucepan simmer maple syrup 10 minutes, or until reduced to about 1/3 cup. Brush hot syrup glaze over warm tarts. Serve tarts warm or at room temperature

Oh, just got done watching Year of the Dog. Very disappointing. Although, I really love Peter Saarsgard, it just kind of lost momentum and dragged on. Ryan and I always like Thomas McCarthy too. He played Molly Shannon's brother in the movie but also directed a movie Ryan and I both really love, The Station Agent.

Have a wonderful weekend, y’all! Love, Britney (ha).

The Fix Is In

So I totally made Ryan draw the winner...

He says I always say or make him do things that make him look like a complete tool. It's all in good fun! Anyway, here is the winner:

which is completely weird because she's 1 of only 2 of my real life friends to enter! I SWEAR TO GOD THIS WASN'T FIXED!! In fact, Ryan said, "I think you'd better draw another name" (feel free to punch him, Amy, next time you see him), "I don't want to ruin my good name in the blogosphere". I said it's retarded comments like THAT that make him seem like a tool. And, no, he has no "good name" nor does he even have a blog. Then he went on to tell me a story about Patrick Ewing having to pick a team in the 1980s, and he picked the Knicks, blah blah blah. I was barely paying attention because I tune out when sports come up. Anyway, he said there was controversy because everyone thought it was fixed and that they put the Knicks envelope in the freezer so that he could feel the cold when he was drawing their envelope out. Anyway...I digress.

So congrats, Amy! And I can say that I really really try to be an honest person, so there was no fix (unless I'm lying right now...jk).

Oh, but then Q wanted to get in on it, so she picked a name too. I have a consolation prize as well going to Tamara (pika2). I need your mailing address, Tamara!!! Amy, I'll give you your loot next time I see you.

Thank you, everyone, for commenting!!! I was so excited to get so many comments and wonderful remarks about my blog and such. I love new friends!!! Please come back and read. I will definitely be doing more giveaways, and hopefully have some more somewhat entertaining crap to share with you all. xoxoxoxo

We Waited for This, Martha?

I will have to admit that when Martha hit Michael's, I was impressed. I was happy that she didn't disappoint us. Her things are a tad expensive, and she doesn't let us use our Michael's coupon on her items, but that's Martha's prerogative. She's Martha, for Chrissake!

But imagine my excitement when I received Macy's new store flyer with the new Martha swag! Well, excited until I really took a hard look at it. Uninspired poopy! We've seen all this boring stuff time and time again. Martha need to either find some new idea people, or she needs to start doing something to get inspired herself. Base jumping? Snake charming? Community service (just kidding)? Well, let me ask what YOU think. Am I being too harsh? The only thing that even caught my eye was the aqua/red color combo on the back page because I'm obviously a sucka for that.

Speaking of lovely color combos, check out this pretty pink sunset taken from our backyard the other night!

Summer's finally over. It's dead to me now. I'm moving on to better seasons-- my favorite, FALL! And some fallish, Halloweeny projects! Hmmmmm...

Red Shoes

Every now and again, the hubby and I take a day off sans Q (she goes to daycare) during the work week to hang out. Today, we took a 45 minute drive to Ann Arbor. The point of the trip was to visit the lovely Red Shoes store to speak with Catherine. I feel a little bad because I bounded in there at 10:10 am feeling really kind of nervous and wound up, and she had been at this fun Sally Jean trunk show at another AA store until late the night before. I think I didn't stop talking, and I may have been hurting her brain. But she is interested in some of my wares, so I will post the info if and when they are all ready and in her shop!

During our lil' meeting, Ryan went to a cool coffee shop called Cafe Felix. Very Parisian! Afterwards, we went into a couple of shops at Kerrytown, bought Q some owl pj's at Keedo, checked out some cool (eek, but not cheap) vintage finds at Found, and ate at wonderful Zingerman's. Ryan had the matzoball soup and whitefish salad sandwich. I had the creamy tomato soup and chicken salad with Nueske applewood smoked bacon (love me some cholesterol!). My beloved foody wannabe hubby also purchased a bottle of Blenheim Extra Spicy Ginger Ale (bleh) to drink with lunch and dropped like $110 in the Zingerman's store on a bottle each of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garum colituro (translation: anchovy oil DOUBLE BLEH).

We then saw 2 Days in Paris directed, written, produced, etc. by the beautiful Julie Delpy. I very much enjoyed the movie. She's one of those women that has unconventional looks (ie she's not plastic looking), but she will ALWAYS be lovely and beautiful in my book-- like Isabella Rossellini. And I also love (1) that she and Adam Goldberg used to date, and she still is close enough with him (not unlike her character, Marion) to put him in her movie and (2) that this is the 7th film in which she's starred with her real-life father (5th with her mother). Oh! And there is also a scene in which Adam Goldberg sends a group of American Bush-tee wearing "DaVinci Codebreakers" on a wild goosechase to find the Louvre. Classic. God, I really hated that book.

For another time though... Bon soir, mes amis!!!

Britney...Sweetie...

Train wreck! Did you see the VMA's??? Britney was HORRRRIBLE (shudder, shudder). Between the really bad lip-syncing (there were times where I think she forgot she was supposed to be "singing"), the whore garb, weird male dancer crotch-grabbing, creepy hair-plug looking extensions, Mom gut, and spacey half-ass dancing, I was so embarrassed to watch...yet I could not look away. Funny how that goes.

Speaking of train wrecks. Did you hear the crickets when Sara Silverman was doing the opening?? EEK. Painful.

Ok, down to business. I scored some great flea market finds this morning. I have my system down pat now. Funny I am always drawn to Japanese salt and pepper shakers and hankies. I don't mean to be-- I try to keep an open mind, really. And I didn't intend for the whole pink and red theme. It just happened this way. You can see more pictures in my Flickr Set.

Furthermore, this is my 100th (!) post! I was trying to figure out what to do, and in the effort to secure a few more than TWO comments from my last contest, I will share the wealth of my cute vintage finds instead of making something. Thanks to everyone who reads my lil' sagas of nonsense on a regular basis (and those newcomers too!).

I am snitching from Heather and Colleen a bit on this next part (thanks for the idea, girls). Comment on my blog, and you will be entered to win some of my vintage goodness! Link to my contest on your blog, and you will get two more chances to win. Just email me with your blog link to let me know.

For your consideration, I will be including a smattering of at least EIGHT items, mostly from today's conquest (and definitely what's shown below), maybe 1 or 2 from previous ventures. I'll pick a name at random on Wednesday, September 12 (Q's 22 month bday, ha). Thanks, and comment away!

Dang-o!

You know my cool chippy metal-top farm table?? The nice shabby chic one in my new craft room shedding small particles of paint onto the floor for the last two weeks? Yeahhhhh, LEAD PAINT. Off to get Quinn tested tomorrow. Having to temporarily use a card table until hubby sands and seals it (dag nabbit).

P.S. Chance for free stuff!!! Pop on by Apples on a Stick and Fresh Vintage for a chance to win some super sweet goodies. My Blogline feeds are growing!!! They are out of control!!!

T-A-G

Oh, how fun. Mary Helen says she's been lurking on my blog (yay), and came out of Lurkville to tag me! She has two very nifty Etsy shops, Scribble Nation (dig that Scarlet on the Toilet) and Green Dreams. Here are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules. (You can find the Etsy shop and blog for my tagger above).

2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).

4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

Without further ado:

1. I have crazy fingers. The ring fingers on both my hands are really double jointed. Like to the point that they look deformed and I can't hold them out straight. My hands are kinda crazy looking anyway, but the fingers push them over the edge. They are so bad that when I play the piano (I only had 3 years or so of lessons-- not a Mozart by any stretch of the imagination), sometimes they lock up, and I can't bend them. Furthermore, Ryan had a hard time getting my ring on during our wedding due to this problem.















2. I used to have REALLY BIG HAIR.
And not good Amy Winehouse bouffant big hair. Like early 90s really really bad hair. Like New Jersey girl big hair. I'm cringing while posting these pictures, but we're all friends here, right? RIGHT??!! Let me give a disclaimer: growing up in a small town, I was very sheltered. I listened to music like Color Me Badd, Bell Biv Devoe, and New Kids on the Block. I never had even HEARD of The Cure or The Smiths until I went to college. Furthermore, I never even knew anyone who had smoked pot until I was 19 (although I did drink my share of Boon's Farm, don't get me wrong). So anyway, I watched a lot of Dance Party USA, and I thought this is what cool girls looked like. Oh goodness.


3. I didn't get to see Quinn be born. I was scheduled for a c-section because she was breech. I was very excited about this because I did not want to go into labor (but I would have never ASKED for a c-section, really). However, when the anesthesiologist (who was a real d*ck, by the way) went to give me the spinal, he couldn't get it in the right spot. I thought it was because I was too much of a fatty (I'd gained 60 lbs), but my doctor assured me they've been successful in much larger women (niiice). After trying for the fifth time, with my O.B. and two other woman residents holding my hands and drying my tears (the most pain I've felt in my entire life), he decided he couldn't do it. I was relieved by that point, but then they just knocked me out, pulled her out, and Ryan wasn't even allowed to be in the room. I woke up, and there she was! I'm still not sure she's mine...


4. Although I am probably one of the most celebrity-crazed people I know (besides Ruth), I have had limited brushes with fame. I have met 4 actors from All My Children at random autograph signings which really do not count. I saw Lily Tomlin in a Las Vegas casino in 1996. Oh, and I once saw Paris Hilton (before she became famous or well, infamous) at an after-party for a really bad movie in which her then-fiance, Jason Shaw, starred (this wasn't the party, but it was around this time period).



5. I took 4 years of French in high school and one semester in college, but when we went to France 3 years ago, I was able to get us around. There was not one time when people did not understand me, however, there was not one time that I understood what they said back to me in French. Also, I really like French people. They were very kind to us when were there. There is a bakery called La Tropezienne that we visited every morning while in Avignon for du chocolat (hot chocolate) and almond croissants. Yum!


6. My husband and I had our first "date" after an urban planning presentation we gave. We went to the MSU dairy store for ice cream, and he dropped his on the ground while trying to pay and hold his ice cream at the same time. It was dorky cute. He proposed to me on the front sidewalk of the MSU Dairy store 3 years later.

7. I am an Urban Planner for an inner ring suburb of Detroit that has a population of approximately 76,000 people. I would never quit my job because I like it, and if I didn't work, I would probably lay around on the couch all day because I'm THAT lazy. I review site plans for building additions, parking lot expansions, equipment locations on commercial properties, and co-locations on cell towers. I also do site inspections when brand new buildings are constructed to ensure the entire property was built per their approved site plan. I alone assign every new address for every new house and building built in the city (such power, ha). I am a member of the Eight Mile Boulevard Association which borders our city on one side, but I think Eminem is a total d-bag.

Ok! I hope the recipients of my tag don't find this chain letter-ish. If you don't wanna do it, that's okay. However, I enjoyed participating!!!

I am tagging:

Jessie of Sweet Jessie Etsy shop and blog.

Amy & Val of Make Out Goods Etsy shop and blog.

Sarah of Misadventures of Mama and Jack blog.

Amanda of A. Bel Emporium (dig them kitschy miniatures), A. Bel Studio, and Every Little Thing blog.

Kat of Cheshire Kat Etsy shop and blog.

Felicia of Fluffy Flowers Etsy shop and blog.

Melissa of Relish Dress Etsy Shop and blog and check out her new Relish Dress bridal!

Sugar & Spice

Hello, my Blogger friends! I hope you are all having a marvelous long weekend. We have had fun. Friday, we saw The Bourne Ultimatum. Eh, it was exactly what I thought it would be. Really, no more, no less. The hubby has always really liked the Bourne movies although he's never ever liked any sort of violent, cheesy, manly-men movies besides these oh AND Roadhouse which I have never fully understood. I just sat there thinking about how I really liked Julia Stiles' hair.

We were in my hometown this weekend. Yesterday, hit the local farmer's market for some lovely spiced pear jam and hit a flea market at Turkeyville! Bought a couple of overpriced mothball smelling books just so I wouldn't leave empty handed. Went to the zoo in the afternoon where Q loved the goats and the choo choo. Very fun.

Cornwell's Turkey Farm aka Turkeyville USA is kind of an institution in my hometown. All the entrees are turkey based-- turkey dogs, smoked turkey, turkey dinner, sloppy tom (like a sloppy joe but with shredded turkey instead of beef), you get the idea. There is an ice cream shop, candy shop, rather large gift area, dinner theater, antique barn, and when I was a kid, they'd have vaudevilian plays in tents outside and fireworks on the 4th of July. I was thinking of Sarah's post and thought to myself that this was probably the closest thing we have to The Ark, but Turkeyville is (to the best of my knowledge and thanks to lotsa red hat ladies) still going strong. Let me point out that my husband, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law all think it's pretty grody. My brother and I disagree even if we are simply blinded by nostalgia.

Anywho, on to the sugar and spice part of my post. I baked today! I don't ever bake, but Ryan was hankering for some Hello Dollies. The recipe I always start with is from my great grandma I think, and I have tweaked it a bit. However, I also saw a similar version on the stinkin' can of condensed milk, so I guess it's a pretty common recipe. Still lovely though, easy, and mighty tasty:

1 stick butter

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 cup chocolate chips (we use milk choc chips)

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup chopped walnuts (we used pecans today cuz that's what we had)

1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

Spray square pan with cooking spray. Soften butter and mix with graham cracker crumbs. Press into bottom of pan. Layer with coconut, chips, and nuts. Pour condensed milk over all. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Done!

And speaking of sugar & spice and little girls, Q liked helping which was more her eating the chocolate chips. Here she is in my favorite Rae Gun dress! I just love the sweet fabric.

To round out the sweet day, I finally sold my Sugar and Spice beverage tray which has been in my shop forEVER. Yay! Thanks, Joanna! Also, I received my vintage decals in the mail and fashioned this stool for my craft room. Made a fabric covered bulletin board too!

P.S. Thanks for all the sweet and supportive comments and emails on my last ranting post; after being told I would be paid for my wholesale order since MAY, I was informed today that she decided not to include my items in her catalog, and she wanted to know where to send them back. What the heck am I going to do with 24 door hangers?? No way, sister. I am getting paid. I just do not understand dishonest people. But it's all ok-- I got nothin' but time to deal with her, and Mama is not happy (and you know how that saying goes). I have stacks of documentation, a complaint in to the Better Business Bureau, and an attorney for a husband. BRING IT.