day two hundred and twelve.

Day Two Hundred Twelve 3/28/10 
Dress: White and black polka dot party dress

Purchased From: Target Year or Era Purchased: Winter 2010 Price: $19.97 Accessories: black mary jane pumps, grey short sleeve cardigan shrug Hair and Makeup: Brushed and curled a bit worn down, usual makeup w/out eyeliner because I ran out of time.   Comments/Compliments/Complaints: A few dress compliments Day: 

Sunday was spent baby showerin'.  I bought this dress a few weeks ago from the Target clearance rack and thought it was a great baby shower hostess dress.  Unfortunately I was in such a chaotic state I somehow forgot to bring my black tights so I had to rock some hairy legs with this pretty dress.  D'oh.  

The baby shower went really well, even though we were still making food and drinks as the guests were arriving.  We quickly finished and swept all of the prep evidence away.  

I am so far behind on blogging so I'll let the pictures do most of the talking on this one: 

Son of bitch. The photo loader isn't working. Blargh. I'll try again later. 

Later: 

The baby shower was diy with an owl/bird theme: 

Train initials purchased from AC Moore and painted pink.  

Bird wishes- cut out birds and instructions to write well wishes to the 

parents-to-be then placed into the bird cage. 

Cute fridge and an L for Lemon

Totally vegan and some raw foods baby shower menu included satay seitan skewers, lemon pasta chicken, mushroom pate, caeser salad, tea sandwiches, eggplant napoleons from vegan yum yum,stuffed jalapenos, etc. etc.  Food labels printed on card stock, cut with fancy scissors, attached to a paper clip and stuck into a lemon. 

Baby Clothesline with banner of babies name

Gift/Favor table

Katy and Drew made terrariums from empty jars with painted pink lids and

Katy ordered owl figures on Etsy.

We made flour sack towel favors by buying towels in bulk and then Kristin made a screen 

from this cute owl and silk screened them.  I made , labels made with rubber stamps 

The rest of the decor was nests and moss with fake eggs, random thrifted and handmade owl decorations, wooden birds, lots of white, pink and clear vases filled with fresh flowers and terrariums placed all around the apartment.  

handmade felt owl plushies

Handmade quilt by seewhatimade

the daddy and mommy-to-be Jake and Sue

day two hundred and eleven.

Day Two Hundred Eleven 3/26/10 
Dress: Greenish Blue Spanish Inspired Sun Dress

Purchased From: Conway
Year or Era Purchased: Winter 2010
Price: $10.99
Accessories: black tights, teal leg warmers, black on black chucks, never ending grey scarf, 
Hair and Makeup: hair wasn't brushed, no makeup 
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: Jody liked my shoes
Day: 



So Saturday (it's Monday now) was a no time for love Dr. Jones kind of day.  I didn't stop for a second.  I woke up at 9AM and ran around like a crazy person until finally going to bed around 2:45AM.  I had a lot of coffee.  


Michael made me breakfast and I wrapped it in foil and stuck it in bag for later.  I picked up my friend Jody and we headed out for vintage and vegetable shopping.  If I ever had a cooking show I'd call it The Vintage Veg.  Maybe I"ll start a separate blog just for recipes and dinners and such.  Don't steal my name or I"ll be really sore at you.  Just like I"m sore at the people that I don't know but heard about that named their dog Bill Murray like I've been planning to do for like forever now.  If I find out I know them or they heard about my plan there will be some serious pissiness on my part, even more than now.  Anyway we headed to the first of 2010 Sazz Vintage Warehouse sale and we both did great!  Jody is one of the few people I can really sink my teeth into thrifting with.  I think maybe my Mom is her only rival.  Over an hour later we emerged from the warehouse, shopping bags runneth over.  We then headed to Produce Junction for veggies and flowers since I intended to spend the rest of the day cooking for my friend Sue's baby shower.  It was Jody's first time at Produce Junction and she was in awe.  So cheap, so good.  


I dropped off Jody and met her and her boyfriend Mike's new cat, Dignan.  He rules.  I also said hello their other four cats.  I want more cats.  Michael isn't feeling it. 


I went home and Rica came over to work on shower stuff.  I cooked for a bit and then we headed over to the shower site to drop off a ton of stuff and clean.  I got home around 7PM and cooked until about 1:30AM, then cleaned up my giant mess.  I had one major fail,  a white bean asparagus tart from vegan yum yum.  I have to say I was quite proud of myself as I did not freak out at the fact that the was paper had fused to the puff pastry and/or that the pastry did not cook completely through.  I just salvaged the asparagus and threw the rest in the trash.  Zen. I also managed to add two extra dishes to the spread as I had leftover mushrooms and veggie chicken so I made spinach and artichoke stuffed mushrooms and vegan chicken salad.  Yup.  More on all that with pictures in "tomorrows" blog that will really be yesterdays because I am so very behind.  


This dress is the same dress as day seven but it's a cool greenish blue color.  The weird puckering/ruffle feature in the middle isn't super flattering and kind of adds a weird fat roll that doesn't really exist but I like it nonetheless.  Those sweet reindeer that I'm posing with came from Circle Thrift last week for $2.50. I am kind of enamored with them at the moment.  They came with gross real fur neck scarf things that I promptly removed and gave to my cat Flea.  He chose to try to eat the antlers off the reindeer instead.  Thanks Flea. 

day two hundred and ten.

 

Day Two Hundred Ten 3/25/10 
Dress: Navy Blue Baby Doll Dress

Purchased From: Circle Thrift (forever 21 dress)
Year or Era Purchased: Spring 2010
Price: $5.00
Accessories: hunter wellies (they called for rain), green tights, 
Hair and Makeup: braids, cream knit hat, usual makeup with no eyeliner
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: hmm, none that I can remember
Day: 



Ugh.  Sorry. 


So I got word from my brother that my sister-in-law, his wife, was released from the hospital today but without a full diagnosis.  That's no fun.  Hopefully they find out more information soon.  Seeing him scared made me really sad.   I'm still exhausted and posting both yesterday and todays entries at the same time because lately time isn't something I've had to spare.  Between working, family stuff, shower prep and house renovations I am beyond exhausted. I spent the beginning of the week with the worst stiff neck ever.  I'm not so good with stress, according to my friend and massage therapist, Rica, I carry it all in my neck and shoulders.  Awesome.  Next week I register for my summer and fall classes.  That should add nicely to my stress.  I'm looking at Creative Writing, Fiction, Scriptwriting and Poetry.  Not too shabby.  Let's see if I can still construct non blog sentiments from these fingertips.  I hope to have more interesting updates in a few days.  Hopefully the shower goes well and fabulous blog worthy photographs will be aplenty.  


I got this dress yesterday when I did a little thrift store therapy.  I stopped at Circle Thrift on my way home and got five dresses.  One of which was this simple navy blue knit baby doll dress.  I knew I'd be running around like crazy (and sort of getting lost in South Philly parking lots with Rica but I'll have to explain all that later) so I wanted to be comfortable.  It was cold again and they predicted rain but I've realized that the weatherjerks have been wrong all week so I don't know why I bother.  Oh well, I wore my wellies to not a drop of rain.  I purposely stepped in tiny puddles.  I dug out my winter coat and wore a hat for warmth.  Blargh.  The other dresses I scored included a vintage Saks Fifth Avenue dress and a few other casual dresses. I was super stoked on the Saks dress.  It's weird and long and black with a bright floral pattern.  It has long sleeves so I'll have to wear it fast. Wee.  I'm off to bed for super early wake up times and a very busy day.  

day two hundred and nine.

Day Two Hundred Nine 3/25/10 
Dress: Black Slip

Purchased From: Thrift Fair 
Year or Era Purchased: Winter 2010
Price: $1.50
Accessories: black boots, argyle tights, white cardigan, fancy turquoise feather and rhinestone  headband
Hair and Makeup: Down and curled with a fancypants headband, usual makeup
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: I got a compliment on my headband
Day: 


I realize this is a black slip and I own many of them, but I love slips and this one cost me a whopping $1.50 so whatevs.  I know I promised long and detailed blogs but my sister-in-law was in the hospital and I'm prepping for a baby shower on Sunday so I am just too darn busy for detailed updates.  My apologies.  

day two hundred and eight.

 

Day Two Hundred Eight 3/24/10 
Dress: Green Cotton Sun Dress

Purchased From: Thrift Fair (it's a forever 21 dress)
Year or Era Purchased: Winter 2010
Price: $4.95
Accessories: black flats, purple houndstooth tights, black cardigan
Hair and Makeup: Fancy double buns with side swept bangs, usual makeup
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: Michael liked my hair
Day: 


It was a long, long day and I am running too late to properly write it all down so I'll have to save it all for tonight, day 209.  Stay tuned. Or you know, just check back later because you can't really stay tuned to a blog.  

day two hundred and seven.

Day Two Hundred Seven 3/23/10 
Dress: Plaid Jumper Pocketed Dress

Purchased From: Thrift Fair
Year or Era Purchased: Winter 2010
Price: $4.95
Accessories: Hunter Wellies, black tights, black knee socks, black cardigan, black short sleeved blouse, cream knit hat
Hair and Makeup: down under a hat, usual makeup with no eyeliner (what?!?)
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: Michael liked my dress 
Day: 


This dress is too big in some spots so I had to do some safety pinning but I really love it.  It's plaid, red and has pockets so I'm a little biased.  It was another rainy day so I wore it under my rain coat and again wore a knit hat. It was much colder yesterday and I spent a large part of my day hating my job, getting soaked and being cold.  Oh well. I totally ditched the gym again and came home to distribute supplies for top secret craft projects, make pizza and work on my own top secret craft projects.  It was a pretty boring day and night.  I wish everyday could be as exciting as decapitated deer heads but alas some days are just rainy and cranky and boring. 

day two hundred and six.

Day Two Hundred Six 3/22/10 
Dress: Black Cotton Ribbon Belt Dress

Purchased From: Thrift Fair
Year or Era Purchased: Winter 2010
Price: $3.95
Accessories: Hunter Wellies, white knit beret, jeans
Hair and Makeup: under a hat, usual makeup
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: Kelly commented that she couldn't believe I wore this to walk dogs.  
Day: 



Monday was a day of annoyance.  I woke up still in neck pain, it was raining.  Great.  At least I had my newly purchased rain coat.  The sucky part of the coat is its lack of hood, hence the knit hat.  This hat was purchased at kmart years ago on clearance and though I think it's cute it's not super functional as it's a winter hat that doesn't cover my ears.  It comes in handy on fifty degree rainy days.  I spent the day working and came home and made a Red Curry Acorn Squash Coconut Pistachio Soup.  It was absolutely delicious.  I was trying to emulate a soup we had at Beau Monde a few weeks ago.  It was close but still missing something.  Here's the recipe I used mostly concocted from this recipe: 


2 acorn squash, pumpkins, or other smallish winter squash
3 tablespoons vegan butter, room temperature
1 14-ounce can light coconut milk
5 teaspoons (or more) red Thai curry paste
1 carton vegetable broth (32 ounches)
1/2-1 cup shelled pistachios (toasted) 
2 teaspoons fine grain sea salt (or to taste)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and place the oven racks in the middle.

Carefully cut each squash/pumpkin into halves (or quarters). Slather each piece of squash with vegan butter, sprinkle generously with salt, place on a baking sheet skin sides down, and place in the oven. Roast for about an hour or until the squash is tender throughout.

In a food processor crush the pistachios to a fine almost powdery form. Toast pistachios in the oven or in a pan. 

When the pumpkin/squash are cool enough to handle scoop it into a large pot over medium high heat. Add the coconut milk and curry paste and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and puree with a hand blender, or puree in batches in a regular blender if you're like me and don't have a hand blender.  Add some broth to your regular blender and the squash puree to help it along. Transfer back to the soup pot if using a regular blender.  You should have a very thick base at this point. Now add broth a cup at a time until the soup is the consistency you prefer.  Add pistachios. Bring up to a simmer again and add the salt (and more curry paste if you like, I used just shy of 6 teaspoons but the curry paste I use is not over-the-top spicy).

Top with whole toasted pistachios and serve hot with crusty bread. 

Kelly and her neighbor Bree came over to check out some dresses since Bree had a wedding to attend. That was fun and she was tiny so I got to dress her in some older awesome dresses that don't fit me. She ended up going home with several possibilities. Maybe I should start a dress rental business.  


This dress isn't one of my favorites but it was easy and comfortable.  The belt kept coming undone all day since it's a silky material, annoying.  I don't know if its prior owner or the designer did this but the boobular area had a hook and eye closure that I certainly needed.  I'm going to wash it and give it to Sue so she can rock it with her pregnant belly.  


The best part about Monday was realizing that Matt had finished tiling our bathroom so I took my photo of the day using it as a background.  The floor tile was his example of what he came up with for the hex pattern. Michael and I both loved it.  Yay for our bathroom being awesome.  I'm totally going to paint the wall areas bright turquoise. Super excited. Yup.

day two hundred and five.

Day Two Hundred Five 3/21/10 
Dress: Navy Blue Ruffle Dress

Purchased From: Ross
Year or Era Purchased: Winter 2010
Price: $14.99
Accessories: crazy pattern boots
Hair and Makeup: down, up, braided with some down, etc. it changed a lot, green eyeshadow and mascara
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: Lots of dress compliments, I let Michael pick from a pile of five or so dresses.  He narrowed it down to this or a plaid dress.
Day: 



I meant to write this yesterday but sleepytime seemed more important.  Yesterday was fun and a little whirlwindy and fast.  I woke up late with a bit of a hangover and a super stiff neck.  It was a bad weekend for my liver and my diet. Boo. 


I putzed around, let Michael pick out my dress, made coffee and toast and headed to Target with my lady friend Sue who has been expecting a little baby since the beginning of this blog.  I found out on day two of this blog and wore a pink dress that day in hopes of a baby girl for her, which she is indeed having, yay! Her shower is this weekend so we went shopping for a cute dress for her to wear and found one on clearance! We also both purchased copies of the newly released New Moon because despite the fact that we are both over thirty we are super dorky.   I also scored a baby blue cardigan and rain coat on clearance.  Word.  After shopping I went home to get ready to go celebrate my friend Katy's birthday at El Camino. Michael and I biked there, my first bicycle ride of the season. Oh Sheila (that's the name of my bike) you are so fabulous and pretty.  We met a bunch of people and sat outside at large picnic tables drinking margaritas and eating.  I ordered and ate 1/4 lb. of seitan.  I kind of loved that I had that as an option.  We had shitty service but managed to have a nice time anyway.  I will yelp you el camino, don't think I won't.   After dinner and celebrating Sue and I watched New Moon and mostly chatted through it.  Oops.  Michael came home from hanging out with Sue's husband Jake and avoiding teenage vampire movies (I'll make him watch it, don't worry) and we watched The Pacific and headed to bed.  Today my neck is still twisted and hurty and awful.  Ugh. I need to schedule a Ricassage (a massage from my friend Rica).   


So this dress came from the Ross dress event, an event I found a little underwhelming.  It has crazy sort of pointy ruffly sleeves that make it a little futuristic and weird.  I wore my hair back/up most of the day so you could see them but the photos with my hair like that were god awful so I took it down.  Sort of wish I'd done that way earlier in the day. Oh well. 

day two hundred and four.

Day Two Hundred Four 3/20/10 
Dress: Black and White Plaid Strapless Dress

Purchased From: Circle Thrift
Year or Era Purchased: Winter 2010
Price: $5
Accessories: Day: 
Hair and Makeup: pigtails, then a ponytail, then down with a headband, usual makeup 
Comments/Compliments/Complaints: Michael and Jody said nice things and someone complimented my "hair flower" but now I don't remember who damn it.  
Day: 



So this dress was purchased a little over a month ago and it fit perfectly when I bought it.  Now it's a tad to big. Love that.  I wore it with jeans and not really accessorized for the motorcycle ride.  Later in the night I cinched it with a wide waist belt and paired it with a mini cardigan for some extra cuteness.  I feel like without the belt it's just sort of frumpy and blah.  I just got this cardigan at Thrift Fair for $3.95.  Including my boots, everything my nighttime outfit cost me $38.  Not too shabby.




We woke up early (ok, not really it was like 9:30) and got ready to go on our first motorcycle ride (I am the passenger, I ride and I ride) of the Spring, on the first day of Spring.  This is a rare occurrence and normally this time of the year is spent in winter coats so we were pretty excited to spend the day outside.  Unfortunately the city tried to swallow us whole before we were able to escape its grasp.  We sat in traffic jam upon traffic jam despite the alternate routes attempted.  Finally, almost an hour later we were moving at speeds higher than 25mph.  We arrived at our destination point to meet Tom and Jared but not before witnessing the beauty of nature in the form of what I guess was a vulture chowing down on something dead in the middle of the road to my right.  We passed our turn off when I glanced at the huge creature talon deep into its lunch.  Michael realized what I now knew as the dead animal road was indeed the road we wanted so he turned around and we headed back.  I saw the vulture landing gracefully, nestling its giant black body onto a tree branch, abandoning its lunch for safe haven.  We drove by and I assumed I'd see a dead bloated raccoon or opossum but what greeted us instead was a decapitated, body no where to be seen, eyeball less, bloody fucking deer head.  It was insane, something straight out of a horror movie.  I expected trip wire ahead followed by an overall clad psycho killer but instead just found our friends and we headed out for a ride.  We stopped for lunch and then headed to St. Peter's Village.  We climbed around on rocks for an hour and had lots of fun.  Unfortunately Tom lost his phone in the water but the boys made a dam and Michael recreated the drop and found it in the deep water, all while hanging off of a rock.  Show off.  

After frolicking we toured the vintage arcade room and got ice cream before heading home.  So awesome. 

We arrived home and I hurriedly updated my hair, makeup and outfit to go to a Yelp event at 22nd and Walnut.  It was fun, we ate and drank for free for a little while before walking across the city to meet friends for a birthday celebration at Sugar Mom's.  I drank some Powers and we hung out there until a little after midnight before heading home and listening to Orsborn babble about party crashing.  It was funny. I fed him mashed potatoes and put him to bed.  All in all it was a pretty awesome first day of Spring.  Way to go 2010, way to go.