One Rare Bird

Breathe. Just Breathe.

It already feels like one of those weeks. I feel tired and irritable, and like I could cry or go into a rage at any moment. So this is a gentle reminder to myself to go slowly and breathe. Just breathe. Happy Monday everyone!

Breathe (2am) by Anna Nalick

  Just Breathe by Pearl Jam

Breathe Me by Sia

Gifts For Him

Today is the last day of Man Week---though if we're being honest it hasn't exactly been very manly---so I was planning on really going out with a bang by doing a post about beer or showing some boobs, but I just don't have it in me. What I really want to do is shop, decorate, and dress my man. So instead of boobs and beer, today is dedicated to all the things I would buy for John if it weren't for a little thing called "money" and the perpetual inconvenience of never having enough.

For his office...

{1.Keystroke Pillows 2.File Boxes 3.Motherboard Clock 4.iPad Case }

For his t-shirt collection...

{1.Pink Floyd 2.Smoky the Bear 3.Mer Jack 4. Big Deal}

For his beverage...

{1.Wine Monkey 2.Cup Cozy 3.Mixed Tap Flask 4.Moustache Tumblers}

For his style...

{1.Neckwarmer 2.Leather Messenger 3. Pow Belt Buckle 4. Retro Aviators}

Words for his walls...

{1.What You Get 2.Today is the Day 3.Good Night 4.Fight Club}

For his hobbies...

{1.Leather Journal 2.Bulldog Pipe 3.Polaroid SX-70 4.Atari}

Happy Friday! I'm going to see if I can still get my hands on that Polaroid SX-70...

The Dream of the 90's is Alive in Portland

This video is really funny, probably because it's completely true, and because it sheds some serious light on many of the reasons I love Portland so much. Granted, I don't think this is meant to be taken too seriously, but believe me, I'm serious. I'm a die-hard fan of the 90's, and I've been known to compare myself to those butt rockers who never grew out of the 1980's, with their greying mullets and ripped up jeans, only I'm not a butt rocker, I'm more of a grunge rocker. So, if you're looking to live the Dream of the 90's, come join us, because it's definitely alive in Portland.

Thanks John for passing  this along. Now I need  to buy bigger glasses.

B is for Beard

A few weeks ago Erin invited to me go to Crafty Wonderland: Portland's Arts + Crafts Extravaganza, to do some last minute Christmas shopping. It turned out to be more like browsing since I didn't have any money to spend on the adorable cross stitched wall hangings, handmade jewelry, and re-purposed clothing. And if that wasn't bad enough, I felt completely inadequate and totally average about my own crafting skills after being surrounded by all that talent. Even Amy Sedaris couldn't help me out on this one. But despite these obstacles, one of my favorite finds was this book I picked up at one of the more "manly" booths by illustrator and rhyme extraordinaire BT Livermore, aka Rad Robot. As I mentioned before my husband sports a rockin' beard, and in an effort to keep the beard-love going I gave the book to John for his birthday.

And if you are like me and can't grow your own beard, but desperately want one (unlike me), your problem is solved. Check out the latest in beard madness: the beard beanie...

Wild Man Bearded Beanie

No? Well, it was worth a shot.

Lego Buzz

This week has a theme, and it goes something like this: There was this guy named John who met this girl named Jessica. They fell in love and got married. John proceeded to have a birthday every year on January 11th and Jessica proceeded to start a blog. She then decided to marry John's birthday week to her blog and call it: Man Week. Wherein she features videos, man stuff, and of course, John. So today she is sharing a video John made using the Legos the kids got for Christmas. She thinks maybe the Legos weren't for the kids after all...

Happy Birthday John! Thanks for growing old...with me.

Music Monday: For That One Guy

Tomorrow is my husband's birthday, so for Music Monday I asked him to pick his three favorite songs of all-time. Well, maybe not of all-time, that's asking a bit much. He just picked three songs he likes a whole lot, and I must agree, these songs rock. They reflect his rockin' personality as well as his Irish pride. What more could a girl ask for in a man? Besides a nice beard that is?

Time  to Get Ill by Beastie Boys

The World is a Vampire by Smashing Pumpkins

Drunken Lullibies by Flogging Molly

Have My Cake and Eat It Too

I still have Birthday's on the brain---and it's no wonder considering we still haven't eaten all the cupcakes we made for Haven's birthday, as well as the cupcakes we took in for her class on Monday, and that's not to mention the birthday party we're having for her friends tomorrow, which of course means more cake. And if that's not bad enough, John's birthday is next week and I already know he is going to want his favorite cake as well. So, if you're going to twist my arm, I guess I can eat more cake, and if it looks any bit as good as these cakes that Martha Rich paints, then I guarantee you, I'll have more than one piece...

Oops! I already have. And it was soooo good!

*Images found via The Jealous Curator.

Party Cats

As I mentioned before, my daughter's birthday was on Sunday which means I was afforded yet another opportunity to bake. Two opportunities actually, since I made both blueberry muffins, and cupcakes for her special day. Again, I find myself gravitating toward those miniature goodies like they could save souls---which they most likely can, given the right recipe---and these are definitely the right recipes.

First up are the buttermilk blueberry muffins I made for Haven's breakfast, which were served to her in bed upon her very adamant request. It's been a while since I've had to drag myself out of bed so early, but her joy at waking up to the sweet melody of "Happy Birthday to you" and the aforementioned breakfast in bed should have earned me enough good-mommy points to last the year... well, a few days anyway.  

Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins _{{via Joy of Baking}}

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups (325 grams) all-purpose flour

¾ cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda 

¼ teaspoon salt 

Zest of one orange or lemon

1 large egg, lightly beaten

¾ cup (180 ml) buttermilk

2/3 cup (160 ml) safflower or canola oil

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 ½ to 2 cups fresh or frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Position rack in center of oven. Butter or spray with a non stick cooking spray 12 - 2 ¾ x 1 ½ inch muffin cups. Set aside.

In a large measuring cup or bowl whisk together the egg, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract.

In another large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest. Gently fold in the berries. With a rubber spatula fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir only until the ingredients are combined. Do not over mix the batter or tough muffins will result.

Fill each muffin cup almost full of batter, using two spoons or an ice cream scoop. Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 5 minutes before removing from pan. Dust with powdered sugar.

Makes 12 regular sized muffins or 6 jumbo muffins.

Note: If using frozen berries you may have to bake the muffins a little longer than the stated time. Also, if making jumbo sized muffins, again, you may have to bake the muffins a little longer.

Next are the cupcakes we had Sunday night, which were super fun and easy  to make, especially considering the help I found (again) at Joy of Baking, and the cute little cupcake decorating kit I picked up at the store.

Vanilla Cupcakes  

Ingredients:

½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated white sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Zest of 1 large lemon (outer yellow skin)

1 ½ cups (195 grams) all purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup (60 ml) milk

Buttercream Frosting:

 2 cups (230 grams) confectioners sugar (icing or powdered sugar), sifted

½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk or light cream

Assorted food colors (if desired)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract and lemon zest. 

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter and bake for about 18-20 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Once the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost with icing. If you want flat topped cupcakes then slice off the dome of each cupcake, with a sharp knife, before frosting. If you want to pipe the frosting, I like to use a large Wilton 1M star decorating tip.

For the Frosting: In an electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream the butter until smooth and well blended. Add the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the milk and beat on high speed until frosting is light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes). Add a little more milk or sugar, if needed. Tint the frosting with desired food color (I use the paste food coloring that is available at cake decorating stores and party stores).

Makes about 12 cupcakes

 

Voila! Kitty Cupcakes, and one very happy newly-6-year-old.

 

Top 5 Bad Messages from Good Movies

My husband recently forwarded me a link to a blog called Geek Dad, and though it's  not a part of my usual blog-browsing circuit, it talks about some great things concerning parents and kids. And since I'm one of those parents who suspiciously believes the "heroins" in older Disney cartoons were specifically created and marketed to keep archaic gender roles in play, my husband knew I'd appreciate the post titled: Top 10 Bad Messages from Good Movies. So in the spirit of not wanting to try and repeat something that's already been so well said, and general laziness, I'm posting my Top 5 of those 10 Bad Messages. But first, here's what the author of Geek Dad had to say about the list:  

"Quality doesn’t generally come into play when it comes to messages: There are plenty of bad movies whose messages are perfectly benign, and plenty of good movies that have messages you definitely wouldn’t want your kids to take to heart. It is this latter category with which this list is concerned."

 Coming in at number 5...

5. If you’re not born with special abilities, you’re never going to be any good at some things, no matter how hard you try (from the Harry Potter movies, and, of course, books).

"In the world of Harry Potter, there are those who are born with magical abilities, and those who aren’t. There’s even a word, “squib,” for people born to wizarding families who can’t do magic. It’s made very clear in the stories that, if you’re unlucky enough to be born without magical talent, you’re never going to amount to anything in that world and might as well not try."

4. Unconventional creative play is very, very wrong (from Toy Story).  

"Sid, the kid next door, is portrayed as basically evil. The movie makes him out this way because he pulls toys apart and reassembles them in strange ways, and likes to blow things up. In other words, he’s a geek. If the toys weren’t alive — and Sid can surely be forgiven for not realizing that they were — his behavior would be perhaps a little extreme, but not in any way wrong, especially for a kid his age."

3. Kissing sleeping women you don’t know will wake them up and lead to them falling in love with you (from Sleeping Beauty and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs).  

"We don’t really need to explain this one further than that, do we? I mean, we all know the stories."

2. If you’re a really good person, but in a lousy situation, simply wait around and eventually good things will just happen to you (from Cinderella).  

"Cinderella ends up living happily ever after, but not because of anything she did. If the Fairy Godmother (a deus ex machina if ever there was one) hadn’t appeared, it’s a sure thing Cinderella wouldn’t have done anything on her own to get out of the house. Yes, her stepmother and stepsisters treated her terribly, and one could argue that she deserves a Fairy Godmother. But — stop me if you’ve heard this before — life isn’t fair, so why should she get something just because karma says she deserves it?"

1. It’s OK to completely change your physical appearance and way of life for the person you love, even if he makes no sacrifices at all (from The Little Mermaid).

"This movie has the single most appalling ending of any Disney movie ever made, which is a shame because, apart from that, it’s a decent film. I just cannot comprehend how anyone could make a movie in the late 1980s with this message, which is not exactly subtle: Ariel gives up her home, her family, and BEING A MERMAID because she loves Eric so. And he gives up … nothing. Yeah, that marriage is off to a great start."

OK, I'm off to do some damage control.... And speaking of damage control, is it normal for six-year-olds to be that afraid of Chucky the doll in Child's Play?

My Favorite Toys of the 1980's

After so much celebrating of Christmas and Birthdays lately, I can't help but give myself over to fits of nostalgia when it comes to the  toys I loved most as a kid. Even now my heart skips a few beats just thinking of the joy I felt when playing with my favorite toys. I'm sure there is something I'm forgetting to include, but all in all this will give you a small window into that soft, gushy, excitable place in my heart that will always be a kid.

{1. Cabbage Patch Kids 2. Sweet Secrets 3. Hugga Bunch Dolls 4. She-Ra }

{1. Teddy Ruxspin 2. Glo Worm 3. Rainbow Brite 4. Care Bears}

{1. Snoopy Snow Cone Machine 2. Troll Doll 3. My Little Ponies 4. Strawberry Shortcake}

{1. Legos 2. Rubik's Cube 3. Simon 4. Lite Bright}

Ok, this next one isn't technically a toy, but I really loved these, so I couldn't not include them...

{Garbage Pail Kids}

This list also wouldn't be complete if I didn't also include the cartoons and t.v. shows that helped form the complex human I am today. I wanted to be Punky Brewster so badly it hurt! Still does actually.

{1.Rainbow Bright 2.Punky Brewster 3.She-Ra 4.Blossom 5.Smurfs 6.Out of This World 7.Gummi Bears 8.The Wonder Years 9.Jem and the Holograms}

If you need me I'll be in my daughters room raiding her My Little Pony stash, tying bandannas around my knees, and pining for the days when my only worry was whether or not I would get the much coveted pink Barbie Corvette I asked for from Santa. Sigh. I'm still waiting...