2012 Week 35: “This is my balancing act.”

This week: went bowling, got a cold that lingered a bit, went to two parties friday night [pictured above: eliza’s brother luther juggling – he also swallowed swords and balanced nickd’s bike on his head], watched steffbomb’s craft wars ep with stacy, hosted a small brunch for lady friends, made and bottled two new polishes for LAK lacquer, etc.

In addition to having a cold, last Saturday (9/28), I developed a rash on my face that gave me scaly skin on my eyelids and forehead and I have felt super gross about the whole thing. I had a bad experience with a dermatologist recently so I did not want to go that route. This lead to lots and lots of googling and google image research. First I thought it was demodex mites and then I came to the conclusion that it was just eczema on my face. I have been rubbing olive oil into my skin and then patting off the excess. It has improved greatly since, but my cheeks are still somewhat red, which might be rosacea. I know, I know, I should go to a dermatologist, but I’ll only head to one if it turns bad again. I haven’t felt like exercising with all this going on, but I have been walking and eating fairly healthy foods. Blerg.

Soon I will be applying for two of my favorite shows: Crafty Bastards [November 10th] in DC and Handmade Arcade [December 8th] in my beloved Pittsburgh. Wish me all of the luck that you can muster!

I cannot believe Renegade Craft Fair Chicago is in 5 flipping days. EEE! I’m mostly ready for it, but I still have a couple tricks up my sleeve! I always do!

Films watched 35th week of the year:

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)
The Living End
Dead Alive
The Hunger Games
Cameraman: The Life and work of Jack Cardiff*

*documentary

I could not believe that Dead Alive was so gory. It was great, but so incredibly gross. I almost had to turn it off a few times, but I persevered. The Hunger Games was just as amazing the second time around. I want to re-read the books, but I lent my copies to a friend, who I will now hound for them!

2012 Week 33: The Master of Making.

I crafted more in the past two weeks than I have in 2012 up through August. This may be a true statement. I made two new greeting cards and heat set the tea towels I printed last week at Art Factory. I made a ton of grab bags of awesome because it is a good way to get rid of slight misprints, things that have been sitting around awhile, or things I made way too many of. Each grab bag of awesome contains at least 3 cards and assorted other fun things. Will totally be a bargain for $4.

On Friday night LCB made amazing enchiladas and we made a nail polish. Yes, that is the secret thing that I have been holding under my hat. I am developing a line that I will be selling under the name LAK lacquer as a subset of Rhymes with Twee. It is an incredible amount of fun, dudes. About as fun as FAZZ was in the 80’s, which is really funny because that is the last time I remember being this excited about make-up. Who else remembers FAZZ?

Saturday I got to see my friend Beth for the first time since she returned from her long Italy trip. We took a lovely stroll around the neighborhood and popped into all kinds of shops. Sunday was all about clean-up and packaging. Tilda even got a bath. I am feeling accomplished, but I always feel like there is more I could have when Sunday comes to a close. That’s why I will likely get up early tomorrow to do something crafty related as well. One of these days Z and I will get around to doing some kind of wedding planning.

Films watched 33rd week of the year:

Dark Knight Rises [again]
The Change-Up
Harlan County USA*
The Master
Rid of Me
Creative Nonfiction
Belfast, Maine*

*documentary

The Change-Up was the worst. Wow. How do movies like that get made? Let’s leave that subject. I went in almost totally blind and The Master was still a letdown, but that’s okay. You can’t always make winners, P.T. Faves this week were Belfast, Maine [all 4.5 hours of it] and Rid of Me. Rid of Me is streaming on Netflix and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Also, I did not mention here on the La De Blog that Shut Up, Little Man was one of the best docs I have seen in ages. Totally worth your time.

2012 Week 32: Life is short…cake.


I made this shortcake because Stanley’s had an insane sale on strawberries. It was a success.

I also made a whole heck of a lot of stuff crafty-wise prepping for Renegade and went to the gym three times. Monday, I took a Turbo Kick class with a teacher who I could not believe was a real human being. She barely broke a sweat in the almost hour-long class that she did all the “advanced” moves throughout! Also of note: went to Alison & Ian’s vegan pizza and ice cream party, went to Lao Sze Chuan for Sei Jin’s birthday.

Probably the most awesome thing this week: Z and I went to see HARRY & THE POTTERS with POTTER PUPPET PALS. This was such an amazing show! If they come to your town and you love the HP books and rocking out, you really owe it to yourself to see them.

I also have something pretty neat that I will be doing that I am not going to address on the blog until it’s final, but the supplies for this project arrive tomorrow. Basically, PSYCHED.

Films watched 32nd week of the year:

Shut Up Little Man!*
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Pirahna (1978)

*documentary

2012 Week 31: Twee-dle dee the fat away?

My first big craft fair of the year (WEIRD, right?); Renegade Craft Fair Chicago, is in approximately a month. I got off my rump and remade my popular veggie vampire tea towels. The above picture shows 225 of them that I made today; 75 Artie the Artichoke, 75 garlic, and 75 carrots. A new veggie vampire is joining the tea towel gang; hopefully this week!

I went to the gym Monday, Thursday, and Saturday this week. I’m starting to feel it in my body in my arms and legs, but so far no weight loss. I took a class called Body Blast and I had trouble walking and sitting down for two days. This next week, I am going to try at least one more class. I really need to load up my ipod, which was still new in box after the last one I had broke and Apple gave me another one. I borrowed Z’s on Saturday and rowed to Black Lips – Arabia Mountain and ran on the elliptical to The Knife – Silent Shout. What seems like one million years ago, I made an awesome workout mix: Finger Point the Fat Away: Indie Exercise Volume I. Seems like I need a Volume II about now. 🙂 What are some of your favorite bands/songs to exercise to?

On Wednesday, I went to Grand Luxx with my awesome work friend Gretchen and Z. I can’t believe I hadn’t been there yet. It is a chain, but a good one. The fried pickles and red velvet cake were divine! Also, I cheated and ate duck triangles and I do not regret it. I feel like I have to give into my cravings once in awhile, otherwise I will just totally give up. Saturday night, we took pizza to Kirstie & Jason’s for his birthday and we watched some Mighty Boosh before we started falling asleep and Z and I headed home. Nice weekend. Got some good stuff done. There is always more to do though!

Films watched 31st week of the year:

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy (2011)
Gremlins
Reel Injun*

*documentary

2012 Week 28: Busi-leigh we roll along.

Rhymes with Twee – Katniss Hearts Cupcakes Postcard

This week:

  • Went to Kentucky for work Mon. – Wed.
  • Fired a gun for the first time. It was a rifle and I am an excellent shot.
  • Ate at Claudia Sanders Dinner House, cheated and ate fried chicken because I was in KY at Colonel Sanders’ wife’s restaurant. It was pretty good, but not worth it.
  • Ate at the second Urban Vegan location that just opened on Fullerton & Ashland. It rules.
  • Went to a great annual party hosted by nickd and bday girl erin.
  • Have not been working out because it’s been so crazy, but somehow again I am down to my lowest weight again. Am considering joining a gym.
  • Most importantly, I finally have two new Rhymes with Twee postcards. They feature my African Pygmy Hedgehog Katniss with cupcakes from Sweet Mandy B’s. They are up in the Rhymes with Twee shop now! See above photo. Heading out to see Thee Oh Sees at the Bottle now. It is the only Pitchfork related thing I did this time around. It was bizarre not to be selling at Pitchfork for the first time in years. Hopefully I will get in next year. I missed seeing all my buddies at Coterie and seeing customers there!

    Films watched 28th week of the year:

    Terri
    Water for Elephants
    Smash His Camera*

    *documentary

    2012 Week 27: “in love. independence day. two clenched fists in the air, chanting “U-S-A!””


    Jason Anderson @ Den Theatre

    What a week, even with the holiday in the middle:

  • Super busy week at work
  • Saw my buddy Jason Anderson and Steven Gilpin play the Den Theatre (see above) – seeing Jason is always just what I needed
  • Did my first Katniss photoshoot and the postcards that resulted will be for sale in the shop as soon as they arrive – Katniss + Cupcakes = adorable
  • Finally ate at Bullhead Cantina – so delicious and they were playing the Superchunk channel on Pandora
  • Saw Black Lips at West Fest
  • Tilda had an appointment with a behaviorist and was issued Reconcile (doggy prozac)
  • On the 4th, I made up my mind that I would eat poultry once a month and I ordered southern fried chicken tacos from Bullhead on GrubHub. It came and I popped a little piece of chicken into my mouth as Z delivered an ill-timed joke. I started sobbing uncontrollably because I know that I want to go fully vegetarian, but I am battling my human cravings. The tiny bite of chicken I had was not even good to me. I ended up not eating the two chicken tacos and had Z eat them. Then we watched Vegucated. It was the best movie I’ve watched about vegetarianism/veganism. It was lighthearted, but provided lots of great information in a palatable manner. Definitely a good one to watch if you are considering going vegetarian/vegan. I know I’ll have setbacks, but I’ll get there.

    I am going to Kentucky for a work trip tomorrow through Wednesday. I am thrilled to be seeing in person what my team does every day. I packed a bunch of energy bars just in case because I am really not sure if I’ll be able to find enough veggie stuff for me. Psyched for the experience though and to see a few members of my team again!

    Films watched 27th week of the year:

    Vegucated*
    Clueless
    Take Shelter
    We Need to Talk About Kevin
    Spork
    Gone with the Wind
    The End of August
    Ellie’s Head

    Lots of great movies this week! Saw our friend Tim’s movie The End of August at Logan Theater and ran into Veronica from Gaudi in the Lounge. Turns out her husband Paul was the star of the movie. What a small, weird, and wonderful world we live in.

    2012 Week 24: “oh no, the numbers don’t lie…”


    Mynabirds @ Schubas

    This week I took it easy. Got to do some Beth catching up mid-week and otherwise caught up on much needed sleep. It was bike to work week and I biked 4/5 days. Go me! On Friday night, Z and I finally tried Filo, a gluten-free restaurant at Augusta & Western. It surpassed any expectations we went in with. The blackened tofu was definitely one of the more memorable vegetarian entrees I have eaten. My soup, entree, and dessert was $12. I don’t know how you can get a better deal that that in Chicago. After that, we walked to Amish Healthy Foods to return our egg crates and get more eggs. As serendipity would have, it we ran into our friend Jess and her pup Mitch. We got to see her new place and she came over to meet Tilda. Then Jess and I met up with Kirstie & Jason at Old Oak Tap. At Amish Healthy Foods, we had also bought duck eggs, which I cooked scrambled with goat cheese on Saturday morning. I was not as impressed as I figured I’d be. Later Saturday I went with Z to the De Molen beer tasting at West Lakeview Liquors and then to the last Urban Folk Circuit of the season. Then today I went with LCB and Kimmi to The Mynabirds at Schubas. It is so cool seeing a friend from DC starting to “make it” in the music world. Saw lots of folks singing along to all the words. It seems like they could be one of those bands who will fly up, up, and away!

    On Saturday morning, I got on the Wii Fit Plus and it registered that I had lost the 20 lbs. that I had set for myself as a goal on it. I still don’t see it anywhere except for my face, but friends and co-workers say that they have noticed. Now on to the next 20! I am contemplating joining a gym again, but the last two times I did that I never went.

    ALSO, big and awesome news! I got into Renegade Chicago! This was super big news that I was not actually expecting to hear this time ’round. This means I have to step up my game. I applied to be matched up randomly with a partner. Excited to see who I am paired with! Whee. Need to pick which veggie vampires to make as tea towels next. If you have any ideas, please comment here!

    Films watched 24th week of the year:

    The Fighter
    The Kennel Murder Case
    Earthlings*
    Melancholia
    The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls*
    The Hourglass Sanatorium

    *documentary

    Earthlings really effected me. I would recommend that everyone watch it. Not the best documentary I’ve ever seen and Joaquin Phoenix sounds like he is reading from a cue card, but the way the information was laid out really hit home for me. I’m giving vegetarianism another try again as a result.