To my beloved turtly friend,
I would like to apologize.
In my earlier comment on Ruffle me that… I stated that I was still waiting for Jamie to give me measurements. However, this is not the case. My darling Jamie was the first one of my friends to give me their complete measurements.
For this, I wish to thank her and send her all my love!!
Now… if only the rest of my bee-yotches would get around to doing the same!
Today I was home running what I’m going to call a fever. For breakfast I had made my tried and true comfort food, soft boiled eggs. Then I just didn’t feel inclined to eat for the rest of the day. My mother called and after we got to talking, she really urged me to eat something, anything. Since I didn’t want to send my housemate out to buy me soup, I stood in my kitchen and let it speak to me. I began thinking I would make some mashed potatoes because they are my secondary favorite comfort food. However, as I was washing the potato, I noticed some key canned ingredients in my pantry. So, I got to work.
I peeled and chopped one medium sized potato and put it in a medium sized saucepan. I poured one can of low sodium chicken broth, covered and set that sucker to a boil. As that heated, I defrosted one chicken breast. Chopping it into pretty chunks, I dumped this into my boiling broth. I tilted some salt and adobo (a common hispanic seasoning made from garlic powder, pepper, oregano, onion powder and salt) seasoning and covered it once again. Meanwhile I chopped up 2 tablespoons of green bell pepper and about half a small onion (I am particularly fond of onions). With the chicken partially cooked, the vegetables went in. I let this boil for about 5 minutes and then lowered the heat to about a medium low. While on this simmer, I proceeded to add about a half cup of sliced mushrooms and a quarter cup of corn. Returning 5 minutes later, I stirred some more and tested the potatoes. Once they were cooked, I fished out as many as I could into a small bowl. Using a fork, I mashed the heck out of them before dumping them back into my bubbling soup. While stirring the potatoes in, I added 1/4 cup of evaporated milk and more adobo to taste. Leaving it uncovered, I simmered it on low for an additional 15 minutes… or until I was just too hungry to care.
Since I was home sick today, I decided I needed something to keep myself busy with. I would have begun working on the aprons, but seems other people seem to forget things and don’t do what they get asked for! So, since I know that the little extra something I want to add to each apron will take me some time and patience, I figured it didn’t hurt to cut some fabric and getting to embroider the special little design which I hope to use as each pocket on the pinafore. I got a wonderful book called Sublime Stitching which has loads of iron on transfer patterns and instructions on how to do basic stitches.
First up is the cupcake design for my cupcake sis.
I lightly traced it on with a pencil. 
Then I used a stem stitch in green for the stem of the cherry.
And I used a split stitch in red for the actual cherry.
I even had a special furry helper!
Currently I finished up bordering the top cupcake area with a slant stitch with a multicolor pink thread. I’m thinking of using that same thread to fill the area in with a satin stitch. I probably should have done the satin stitch first. However, I thought the thread was going to show a little more color. It’s fine, if anything, I could always add another bordering with another stitch. Let’s see how I feel as I go along…
Located in Mayaguez, P.R.; 2nd floor Town Center across from the UPRM Campus.
This restaurant is definitly the in place to go on Tuesdays for the college crowd for the 0.25 cent buffalo wings (which, due to inflation and the cost of chicken, have recently been upped to 0.29 cents a wing). Usually everyone goes for the special, ordering their wings in implements of 5 and 10, and combining them with all sorts of delicious sauces. The flavors themselves are a wide range to suit many different tastes: Ranch, BBQ, Tequila, Honey Garlic, Terriyaki, Garlic Lemon, Spicy, et al. My favorites are the Honey Garlic and Terriyaki. The most common, I believe, would be Ranch and BBQ. These wings are then accompanied with the usual potato fare in sides, such as french fries, curly fries and mashed potatoes (or loaded ones where they are covered in melted cheese and bacon) as well as garlic bread, onion rings, side salads and nachos.
While most at my table ordered an assortment of the wings, which arrive in the cutest multicolored array of plastic baskets, I opted for the Mushroom Swiss Burger with fries (and a side of sour cream to dunk them in…. what can I say? I LOVE sour cream). The environment of the place is very relaxed, the waiters are usually pretty attentive in ensuring refills and on these full days, there’s tons of activity. The music is pretty varied, alternating between everything and then some. Sometimes they have sports up on the various television screens. The actual restaurant is divided in two sections, the bar area and the actual sit down restaurant. The first having louder music and is the perfect place for those dining alone to just pull a chair up by the bar and enjoy their meal.
I really do enjoy visiting Buffalo’s. It’s a lively scene and the food is pretty great. Everyday there is a special like the Tuesday-Buffalo wing combo, Wednesday’s Nachalos (a huge platter of nachos with chicken, salsa and queso verde) are probably the second most popular dish. Thursdays has chicken penne pasta and I know Saturdays repeats the chicken wing special. I’m not sure of the other days, but those are the most popular. Since the place can fill up, it doesn’t hurt to give a ring ahead to see what’s up and if there is space. Especially if you are going with a large group.
Overall, a definite delight and one of the main stops for food in my area.
I had help, my housemate was kind enough to take this picture for me as I modeled the final creation of the apron pinafore. I think the apron is just the right touch. I like that the gingham is on the diagonal. Because I was feeling up to it, I added on the ruffle by sewing it by hand. For my apron I decided not to put a pocket. I’m thinking that on the ones that I am making for friends I will. Still am unsure as to whether I should put it on the bust or on the apron. I’ll figure it out. And since I got that book with the iron on trasfers, I’ll embroider something pretty on everyone’s pocket. I bought this glorious white fabric which I will use on the pocket and the ruffle for the rest of the pinafores.
Now… if the ladies would stop procrastinating and would give me their sizes already, I could get to work! *gives the glare to the right readers*
This is another personal opinion review: So, for some strange reason I felt very compelled to see this movie in the theatres. Usually I wait ontil these romantic comedies are on HBO or something before I bother to watch them. But, I was at the mall with my housemate buying fabric for a mattress cover he wants me to make for him (heaven help him for asking me to do it!), when we checked the movie listings for this movie. We had half an hour before the next showing and thought we had nothing else to do for the afternoon. So, we cleaned out Wal-mart out of several dozen yards of fabric, and crossed over to the theatres.
The movie started with the film screen backwards and without sound. It took the theatre full of irate women making snarky comments for them to realize, and about a half dozen of said women to demand their money back before it started up again and right. Then it went through some colorful fun. The story is about a woman, played by Katherine Heigl, who loved weddings. She felt it was her call to help out all her friends make it the best day of their lives and to be a part of them. But, she soon realizes that it’s not so great to live the saying of “Always a Bridesmaid… but never the bride”. When her sister is about to marry the man she’d secretly been in love with for many years, she goes into meltdown. Pitted as the hunky hero of the movie is played James Marsden, who is a cynnical writer looking for his break from having to write about the wedding section in the paper. He opens her eyes to realize that she can say no and let go of all 27 of the bridesmaids dresses that she’s had to endure so far in her life.
In the end, its a happy ending for everyone. It has to, that’s the sort of movie that this is. But I actually enjoyed it immensely. The characters were quirky and the dialogue seemed real. Heigl and Marsden played wonderfully off one another. This isn’t the sort of movie just anyone can get into, but those who enjoy romantic comedies will find the characters likable. The ending is just spectacular and appropriate. It makes me want to get married and have a wedding with plenty of bridesmaids and such.
With Valentine’s day in mid February, now is the perfect time for all those lovely ladies with all those lucky lovers to begin their hunt for the right something-something to get y’all in the mood. As a sort of side business, I work on image consultation and personal shopping. This means I evaluate people’s tastes and Wardrobes, and then proceed to make recommendations. Often people come to me when they have the desire to acquire a certain item and they aren’t sure where to look. They can feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices/ the apparent lack of choices/ the completely clueless notion of what will look good on them/ etc and I like to make it easier for them. Afterall, I enjoy to shop and have a very good eye for style. It’s absolutely a pleasure to be of any help, it really is.
So as it stands, a few of my favorite people have asked me for their help in selecting something just right for Valentine’s Day. It’s been an absolute delight seeing all the visions in red, the froths of lace and the shimmers of rhinestone hearts. I understand that this is not for everyone. In fact I know that it’s not. I would even say that I’m not the type of girl who even wear lingerie to begin with. But, seeing some of those lovely little creations, I somewhat wished I did have someone special to share them with. Yet, every woman should stand proud and revel in her delight to wear the sort of underpinnings that she so wishes! At the end of the day, I think I helped some people out and they will surely be the sex kittens they need to be because I helped them find just the right thing for them.
Returning to my normality and everyday life, I went bra shopping! Sure they aren’t the transparent lace pinnings that lingerie models wear (of course not! I have an actual body with real curves!) but I think they are just adorable! That and I think I’ve got cleavage for days. So… right… There are fruit of the loom push up bras and I think they are just the best things ever. I love all the colors and I even got some bikini undies to somewhat match them (and no, those are not shown nor will I show them :p). Seems these colors are very in!
gray bra with pink and white details and double strap 
White bra with pink straps and blue edging
Pink bra with teal and yellow details, front close and racer back
Could you dare to bare your underwear?
You know, I realize the fundamental problem with my eating habits is the sheer amount of times in a day that I forget to eat when I should. When I finally do it, I gorge myself on all the wrong things. I know I’m not the only one and most people are totally aware of the fact that it’s not healthy for them. Most of my friends admit that they can only guarantee having one solid meal a day. The rest is usually junk. Some peanuts or some cheezits do not a proper lunch make! Some ritz crackers are not breakfast! I try to remind myself to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with the right kind of snacks, I really and truly do. But then this usually just leads me to at least remember to have lunch and dinner with some snacks somewhere between and perhaps after. I don’t think my choices are unhealthy. However, I still seem to continuously miss out on the most important meal of the day: breakfast!
This may sound totally strange, but now I’ve gotten myself a buddy system going with the puptart. We talk to one another constantly as it is, why not give one another a friendly reminder? While I just plain procrastinate to eat, she nibbles on stuff but never gets to her real meal. Since we usually wake up at different hours, our eating schedules are a little staggered. The moment one of us remembers food or that they’re hungry she must instantly contact the other to see if and what she has eaten. Should the other not have eaten or not eaten sufficiently, the other must command and pester until she does so. It usually doesn’t take much pestering. A simple “Have you eaten? Go eat!” works wonders. We know that this is for our own good. The decision as to what we eat is all our own and hopefully we’ve been learning about the right choices to make.
What about you? Do you have trouble remembering to eat? Do you need a buddy system to keep you going or are you good at getting the right meals squared away?
I must REALLY love and trust dallas in order to have gone with cockamanee idea of putting a ruffle on my pinafore. OY! Gosh darn, I swear it’s the fates conspiring against me. First off, lemme mention something I have yet to say before… I HATE cutting! You heard me, I despise it. I can’t cut a straight line to save my life. Really, I can’t! I skipped kindergarten, so perhaps this is why I never learned how to really use scissors.
The heretofore unmentioned reason as to why I decided to use gingham in the first place…. It wasn’t because I have this fetish for plaids nor was it because it was the only fabric on sale for a dollar a yard at Wal-mart (okay, so maybe both those things had an influence, but those were the main ones!!) was because I figured with all the boxes and stripes, I wouldn’t have to worry about cutting and stitching. I’d always have a guide along to help me. And here I thought I’d had it made! Until I was told that I had to cut the darn fabric on the bias for a ruffle. What a kerfuffle that was! I cursed far more than I cut, I wasn’t sure how much fabric I needed and it never seemed to be straight enough. So, one side I cut and hoped for the best. I folded it in half (I was hoping for a strip of fabric some 12 inches wide) and went to town trying to cut me one hella long rectangle in as straight a manner as I possibly could. I actually think I accomplished it too. So then I folded it inwards into quarters so that I had a double layer of double and went to town with my machine. I three 3 straight (*cough cough* Okay sure, we’ll call them that!) lines at the longest stitch length. Then I began pulling on the fabric only to realize that one of my folds had gone all wonky and I hadn’t sewed it shut inward.
Oh, thread! How I cursed thee as I had to undo several dozen inches of you! 
I got a system down for removing them, needless to say I was covered in loose thread and everything in between.
With a determined air, I proceeded to go about the folding and the sewing again. I knew what I was going and this took no time at all. But by this point I was feeling somewhat cranky over the whole thread business and it wasn’t easy being gentle in my tugging so no thread would nap and end up ruining my ruffle. In the end, I ended up with a nice soft ruffle as my darling friend said I would. I pinned it into place on the hem and was going to get started. And then the machine got stuck.
Fuc …. Oy!
I think it just has to do with the thickness of the whole ruffling and what not. I SO do not have the whole foot pressure thing down. So, you guessed it, I set the project aside for the evening. I’m think that maybe I’ll just save myself the anxiety and tack on the ruffle by hand. I could do that…
At the oh-too young age of 28, one of the finest young actors of this movie age has passed away. I know that my blog usually posits on food, crafts and beauty, but I simply couldn’t let this event pass without my leaving some remark. Stepping onto the screen in 10 Things I Hate About You, Ledger was all of 19 and still starring his australian accent. Passed off for his boyish good looks, this movie certainly wouldn’t win any awards. However, as one of those modernized versions of Taming of the Shrew, this is the kind of movie any teenager and young adult appreciates for it’s fun. Belting out “Can’t take my eyes off of you” what woman wouldn’t wish for such adoration? I know I fell in love with him then. Growing up and showing the beginnings of his signature style, The Patriot was an undeniably compeling piece to show how his quiet reserve could be channeled into such amazing intensity. My absolute favorite movie is A Knight’s Tale where he did know how to make fun of himself and still deliver a believable role. The quaint medieval stylings and theme just made it more than meets the eye, very much like Ledger himself.
As his career progressed, his roles were far more carefully selected. Some say that he should have been warned off The Brothers Grimm but I, as a huge fan of his and of Matt Damon, thought the workings in the tale were quite magical. He definitely wasn’t heartthrob worthy in that movie and it showed a clear talent to transform himself. The challenge seemed to engage him. He didn’t shy away from controversy and I think those were moments when he truly shined like in Candy, Monster’s Ball, & BrokeBack Mountain. The last especially when the beauty of the lanscape and the quiet tone of the movie itself could best be identified by Ledger’s character. So emotionally closed off and yet so very vulnerable and innocent. I have probably never felt my heart break more for a character than in that final scene.
I know there are many movies of his that I have not seen and plenty that I have seen but did not mention. My friends are talking about doing a Ledger marathon in order to fully take the impact of this loss of talent. Why do those things most beautiful and bright seem to have to fade away? I grieve for his daughter who will never know her father aside from the snapshots of his shining career. They say that the newest installment to the Batman movie series shall be Ledger’s last completed work. I know I will have to brace myself mentally to see it. I had been so looking forward to it before. I didn’t even recognized Ledger as the Joker. It promises to be dark and maniacal, a true edge.
I agree with that critic who wondered how many films, as the years go by, we shall see and wonder how much better the film would have been had Ledger been alive for the part.
May he rest in peace.
My heart and condolensces to his family and close friends.
 | CorLeonis15 on A bombshell rant on fashi… |
| CorLeonis15 on the surprise of a lifetim… |
| CorLeonis15 on a girl in a pensive mood |
 | GTimeMan on T’is the season for… |
 | Rebecca on A NaNoWriMo pause during … |
