• Dear Diary

    Waiting For Spring Gets Me Every Time

    by  • March 25, 2013 • Dear Diary

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    You guys. I can’t even lie. I am over it. The snow. The puffer jacket. The boots. The everything. And it’s got me in a funk here, hence the sporadic posts. Don’t get me wrong—I love curling up under a blanket with a cup of hot tea on a cold winter’s night. But I’m ready for spring. I’m ready to get back out there and explore without starting to sweat while wearing 15 layers because you were cold but then you got warm from hopping on the T. You know the feeling? We’ve got places to go, people to see and new spring clothes to show off.

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    Spring. So close, yet so far. Almost, Louise. Almost.

     

    Life Lately Gets Me Every Time

    by  • February 27, 2013 • Dear Diary


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    Well hey you guys. Look what I cooked up over the weekend. No, not another burger. A new look. What do you think? Let me know if anything looks wonky and I’ll get to fixing it. There will be some more tweaks in the coming days, so just hang with me while I get this new space all nice and comfy for ya.

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    A special welcome to any new faces that I met on Monday night at the Boston Bloggers meet-and-greet. I prefer to call this my “girls’ night out,” but there were actually a few fellas in the crowd at Scampo at the Liberty Hotel. Note to self, plan a special dinner here.

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    Emily (above) from The Great Wide Open and I are coworkers, so we went to the meet-up together. But get this, even though we work within 100 vertical yards of one another, we really only met because of our blogs. That’s the silly, crazy blogosphere for you. Be sure to check in on Emily’s blog this week… she sat down with Kenneth Jay Lane last week. I know, right?

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    One more item to check out. Kristyn Ulanday and Max Esposito are two BU grads who are making a name for themselves. And that name is Full Frame America. We hit up the premiere of their first documentary, The Druid City, over the weekend. It’s the story of T-town (Tuscaloosa, for all those non-Alabamians) rebuilding after a massive tornado moved through a couple years ago.

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    Since part of the film’s focus is about the Crimson Tide, Max & Kristyn commissioned me to make two crimson elephant business card holders for the event. They looked pretty snazzy amongst all their photos. If you want to check out the film and you’re in the Boston area, make arrangements to be at the Boston International Film Festival this April. The Druid City just got accepted.

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    And speaking of elephants, check out this prototype I’m making for the Etsy shop. What do you think? An elephant pencil holder. Pretty great, huh? Still working on the kinks, but I have a feeling these guys will fly off the shelves.

     

    A Tiny Kitchen Gets Me Every Time

    by  • January 30, 2013 • Dear Diary

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    When I tell people I have a tiny kitchen, they don’t always get it. But, here you have it folks, my tiny, tiny kitchen. As a “blogger” there’s a lot of pressure to show the amazing life one lives. But, it’s not all roses and sunshine. Some of us have stinky feet, bad hair days and small (but not that cute) apartments. It’s true. Now, while the kitchen may be tiny, which I resented in the beginning, I’ve grown to love it’s efficiencies—I can literally get something out of the fridge and pop it right in the oven with a mere pivot.

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    Speaking of the fridge, here it is in all it’s apartment-sized glory. Postcards and photos make it the bright spot of this most compact kitchen.

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    Since drawer space is at a premium, we’ve taken to bringing our most often used items out in the open. Above the sink hangs tongs, measuring spoons, a corkscrew and a can opener (not pictured) along with several hand-me-down mugs. The way I see it, it’s better to have these hanging out in the open than the cat food piled up in a corner (that’s in the bottom drawer, don’t ya know?)

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    Just below these kitchen is the sink, as I mentioned, and the strainer… you know, for the dishes. The dishes that are all washed by hand. Oh yes. Scroll back up to the top friends, this high-efficiency kitchen doesn’t have a dishwasher other than yours truly & Mr. Gets Me Every Time himself. So, one of the newest additions to our tiny, tiny kitchen is Fresh Infusions Lime Basil Dish Soap. It smells fantastic. And it (duh) cleans the dishes. Bonus—the bottle is not bad looking either.

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    Across from the sink (in the windowsill) sit all the other things that would be stuck in otherwise used drawers. And the plant! All this (and not much more) lives in our cozy kitchen. And while it’s far from the kitchen of my dreams, thank you Pinterest, it does the job. Do you have any small kitchen tips? We can use all the help we can get.

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    Palmolive Fresh Infusions did not pay me to mention their new soap in today’s post. I do love them though. Influenster gave me these soaps complimentary to test out in my tiny, tiny kitchen. 

     

    Life Lately Gets Me Every Time

    by  • January 22, 2013 • Dear Diary

    Well you guys, it’s already been an exciting 2013. Projects, catching up with friends, reading more, Toyidermy, work-work and that’s just the beginning. Here’s a look at life lately.

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    From top to bottom: A Sunday home manicure, orders packaged, my beautiful cousins, a family #caturday, running errands, getting crafty.

     

     

     

    Going Gluten Free Gets Me Every Time

    by  • January 8, 2013 • Cooked It, Dear Diary

    JimmysChickenParmIf you’ve been reading along carefully the last few weeks, you probably caught this little nugget of information in my Taco Superlatives post. Or maybe you not-so-subtly learned it from this Pinterest board. But, in case you missed it, the news is out—I’ve gone gluten-free. Not because it’s a new year and I’m going all crazy healthy on you. Nope. It’s because of some tummy troubles that started last fall that I battled with no relief until giving up the glute. I’ll spare you the details of the whole ordeal, but it wasn’t comfortable, I’ll tell you that much.

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    After some blood work and a few doctor’s visits, I said “goodbye” to gluten and haven’t really looked back since. I just started feeling SO much better. It’s been tough adapting to some of the new tastes that go along with a gluten-free existence, but it’s been good. Plus, there are so many options to replace some of my favorite foods like mac & cheese, chocolate chip cookies and chicken parm.

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    For Christmas, I received a gluten-free cookbook and I cannot wait to try out some of the more complicated recipes. Our kitchen may be small, more on that soon, but our appetites are anything but. Stay tuned for all the gluten-free goodness to come.

    *If you’re interested in going gluten-free for health and/or weight-loss reasons, please seek the advice of a nutritionist/dietician/doctor. I am none of these and cannot offer nutritional advice for you. My doctor and I figured out what will work for me, I encourage you to do the same! *

    November Got Me Every Time

    by  • December 10, 2012 • Dear Diary

    Here. I. Am. Did you miss me? The last time we did this was October 26. Before Halloween. More than a whole month ago. And a whole lot has happened that I want to tell you about.
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    You see, the store has been swamped. I got a huge order that some of you may know about. (I’ll tell the rest of you as soon as I can, promise.) Add to that the start of the holiday rush. It’s been busy, no doubt.
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    Let’s not forget the full-time day gig I’ve got that has taken me to DC and Maine in the past month.20121210-084306.jpg
    It’s just been a crazy fall all around. The kind of crazy that sometimes leads to colds, the flu and a little bit of knockdown illness. Riding the couch sickness that keeps you home from work. Everyone is well now. Including the cat.
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    And cue gratuitous cat photo.
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    And since we’re talking cats… Why not mention there’s only one set of kitty coasters left in the shop.
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    So, of it’s OK with you guys, we’re going to go back before we go forward. I want to share our European trip with you. I want to tell you about the latest dance show. I want to show you new products from the shop.20121210-084254.jpg
    Since we’re all on board with this plan, grab yourself a muffin and settle in. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

    Catober Gets Me Every Time

    by  • October 1, 2012 • Dear Diary

    OCTOBER IS FOR:

    • taking more pictures…

    • more pictures of something other than tacos.

    • being more open with you guys, dear readers.

    • seeing new places.

    • keeping in touch with friends.

    • using the crockpot.

    • & organization.

    (And Louise thinks it’s also a month for more gratuitous cat photos, but really, I think we have enough of those. Louise is resolving to be nicer this October. Those are our goals. What about you?)

    Around Here Gets Me Every Time

    by  • September 13, 2012 • Dear Diary

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    Hello faithful readers. My apologies for the lack of a regular posts here lately. The Mr. and I are working on some big plans (no, not that plan, mom) so I’ve been keeping myself busy. Other than that we’re just welcoming back football season (and crockpot season), taking the cat (Louise) to her “back-to-school” check-up, and I’ve been fulfilling lots of custom orders for Toyidermy.

    I’ve also been thinking about entering a craft show this winter. Do you think I could do it? Have you ever sold anything you’ve made? 

    Until next time, stay busy and happy!

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    Here & There Gets Me Every Time

    by  • August 29, 2012 • Dear Diary


    Let’s start with the “there.” Last weekend, I was in Pittsburgh, PA for a dance teacher convention. What’s that you ask? Basically it’s three days of learning dances, warmups and teaching techniques for all ages. And during the time not spent dancing, you’re pretty much eating or sleeping or talking about dancing.


    Eating things like this steak salad topped with fries—they only make them like this in “the ‘Burgh.”


    And sipping cocktails and mocktails all while having a few hours to catch up with my mother. We only see each other a few times a year so we try to use dance as an excuse to get together if we can. (Mom is a dance teacher too, by the way.)


    And this was a most convenient meeting place because we actually never left the airport really. The hotel where the conference was held was connected to the airport. So you could see, and wave to, all the planes coming and going.


    When we get to the “here,” I must start with this plant. Is it time for a bigger pot? Interwebs help, I’m not quite sure what I’m doing from this point on.


    New duds coming to the shop soon, just in time for football season. But for now, you just get a sneak peek and a chance to win some toyidermy over on Cubicle57.


    Of course I can’t do an around here roundup without a picture of Louise and a little project preview. More on that next week, friends.

    Family Birthdays Get Me Every Time

    by  • August 23, 2012 • Dear Diary


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    Isn’t it funny that out of 365 days, two of my family members’ birthdays just happen to fall on the same day? It’s true. And actually, this isn’t the only case of such coincidence.

    Today, August 23, would have been the 100th birthday of the better-known relative, Uncle Gene.

    More importantly though, it’s the fourth birthday of my eldest nephew, Liam. Perhaps he’ll grow up to be movies like his birthday buddy. Or maybe not. All that’s important is that he’s happy and that today, he eats a honkin’ slice of cake. (plus some for me, since we live on separate coasts)

    Happy Birthday Liam, Uncle Gene and all the other August 23rd birthday people.

    The other coincidence is my brother and a different nephew (from the Mr.’s side of the fam) who were both born on Thanksgiving day, twenty-some years apart.

    The birthday celebration continues tomorrow. Come back to see what Liam will be unwrapping later today!