House in a Box

Titled as the latest in domestic zombie protection on igmur.com this house is so much more! I'm thinking long vacations away from home without worries, hurricane and crazy weather proof and a hell of a conversation piece.

Feathers and Flowers

Quick photo of a red feather and flower bridesmaid hair-piece I created for my own wedding. I love this photo, had to share!

Rolling Pizza Stones

Had this discussion with a friend the other night; how do you clean a pizza stone? Apparently it's easy to ruin one by washing it with soap. The stone I own, did not come with cleaning instructions, so I did some research [as mine is still on the counter top with day old crust and cheese stuck to it] and this is what I found unanimous and universal for cleaning it:

- Use a kitchen scraper to get rid of the stuck on pieces.
- Wipe with a damp [water only] sponge or cloth.
- Submerge in warm, clean water, again - no soap! Soak for 20 minutes to completely saturate the porous ceramic surface.
- Air dry overnight.

So know we all know.

Crafty

CraftEdu.com is launched Beta and my first class is up.  It's an intro into millinery, I am so excited! Check it out!

Moving Mayhem

Nope, not at all actually. I have been packing for the last three weeks and have two more weeks to finish. I gave myself more than enough time to get organized and packed. This is very different from my college years when random items were thrown haphazardly into a large duffel-like bag and tossed onto the back seat of my friends car.

This time around I picked up boxes in three sizes, all relatively small and easy to carry, since most of my possessions are books and fabrics and clothes - all heavy. As I packed each box, on an excel spreadsheet I wrote down what it's contents were; gave it a number and wrote the corresponding digit on the box.

This is going to make my life so much easier when unpacking. I can pick and choose which box to place in what room, but also which box to unpack when. My winter coats and sketchbooks can hang out in their box for a few, my binders and millinery tools can not.

Nutrition

Some basic facts:

- The caloric yield of carbohydrates is 4 calories per gram.
- Fats found in dairy and meat yield 9 calories per gram.
- Complete proteins: eggs and white or red meat [4 calories per gram]
- Incomplete proteins: beans [4 calories per gram]

- 1lbs of human fat = 3500 calories



source: BCC HWD

Nail Fashion!

Over the last few years I have become more and more obsessed with nail polish, the more unique the color, the better. I dare not say how many bottles of the colorful flammable joy I own. But single color will no longer do. I want more! Japanese Fashion to the rescue. In the last few issues of Vivi, the models and Japanese celebrities have the craziest nails; very colorful with jewels, lace and glitter. You have seen them on Lady Gaga and Fergie. So! How to Make? ;)

Follow these steps for the basic method.

Step One: Clean off whatever nail polish you have on the nail.


Step Two: Use a clear coat of nail polish as base for your color. Later on it will be easier to remove the color, especially dark saturated polishes. I like to use Sally Hansen's Insta-Dry... because it dries, er, instantly.


Step Three: Apply one coat of desired color. Here I will be using Sally Hansen's Insta-Dry "Night Flight" it's black.


Step Four: You will need your gems, jewels and sparkly things here. Make sure they have a flat surface, otherwise they will fall off. Apply the gems while the polish is still wet, use tweezers for better accuracy. If the polish dries up before you place the gems, dab a little of the clear coat as adhesive.




Step Five: Using nail art polishes like SH's Nail Art Pen or Milani's Nail Art Brush draw in detail around your gems.

Step Six: Wait till dry and top off with the clear top coat.


Step Seven: Have FUN! :D

Paper Love

I went to B&N to buy a new weekly planner for 2010. For some reason no stores ever sell these things in December or January, so this year I had to make sure I purchased mine at the height of the season, when the selection was at it's prime... but I digress.

I love Molenskie notebooks, I own a few, so I was very happy to see that they also had weekly planners. Fantastic. Then I walked by another brand of notebooks and planners that were just as chic and simple. ECOSYSTEM. Made from 100% post consumer recycled paper. Made is the USA and 25% less in cost. SOLD! I bought a whole bunch of notepads, including my weekly planner.

Molenskie is made in China and costs more, explain that to me please! ECOSYSTEM! Buy it! Love it!

Feeling Magenta?

I just watched an episode of The Golden Girls and Blanche had a little name for a feeling that is a little bit of everything... not quite blue - because you're not all that sad; not quite green with envy, not all that scared - so not quite yelleo' ... MAGENTA!

I love it! :)

Beautiful Amber Necklace

I just had to share! This is an amazing piece of jewelry made of authentic Baltic amber.

What to Take, What to Pack?

Ever start packing for a trip and not know where to begin? Ever bring more than you really needed? If yes, you are just like me. Currently I am packing for a two week European trip with a pit stop at a wedding. I started to pull out all the clothes I loved and wanted to wear, 20 minutes later I came to the conclusion that once again I would over-pack. So I pulled out my trusty GOOD ADVICE file and discovered this great list. There's also one especially crafted for us ladies. The check-list is general and you do have to keep in mind that you should adjust it to your needs and your destination. I will be attending a two day wedding, so I must add two cute dresses and shoes, bags etc... to match. Enjoy!

Glasto!!!

Had to share! The Glastonbury Festival!

H2O

Get your space bikinis ready! The surf might be churning on Saturn. Full article.

Scary...

This is a fascinating web-page... sadly it bears bad news. It is called the DEBT CLOCK, and it clearly and through streaming updates all the frightening numbers that affect us all. Check it out for yourself. :/

US vs. China

The Obama administration files a WTO case against China. Read more here.

Hand made wonders!

I have been complaining about the lack of diversity in retail market for quite some time now. The brands that we find at the global malls these day like to play it safe... resulting in the same t-shirt being sold under various labels at various prices. If my little heart desires something more innovative, unique or even avant guarde, I have to look to the fashion gods across the pond in EU, and happily fork over my weekly paycheck. Well!!! there is another way... ESTY.com.

It's all handmade by the sellers and well one of a kind, unique, avant guarde, etc... check it out for yourself, contact the artists for more info about the item you love before you buy, or if you're crafty set up an account yourself and start selling! :)

Fashion at the Met!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Special Exhibition
The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion
May 06, 2009–-Aug 09, 2009
This Costume Institute exhibition focuses on iconic models of the 20th century and their roles in projecting, and sometimes inspiring, the fashion of their respective eras.
The Tisch Galleries, 2nd floor

Radon

This is a very important thing to ask your landlord about [if you are renting] or if you own your home, take the appropriate steps to test your home. Radon is a radioactive gas that has no odor, taste or color and it is harmful. The website below provides important information about radon and how to protect yourself and your family.

http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html

Biggest Diamond Ever!!!

BPM 37093, the name of white dwarf star that is completely made up of crystallized carbon, a.k.a. DIAMOND! Astronomers estimate the mass of this sparkling star to be the same as our sun, making it a 10 billion trillion trillion carat rock. Twinkle, twinkle!

Eww! Margarine!

Below is a re-post from an e-mail I received this morning. Checking with a few sources to see if it's legit. DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter? Both have the same amount of calories. Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams. Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Studyeating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added! Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods. Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years. And now, for Margarine.. Very high in Trans fatty acids. Triple risk of coronary heart disease. Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol). Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold... Lowers quality of breast milk. Decreases immune response. Decreases insulin response.. And here's the most disturbing fact..... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING! Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC... This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance). You can try this yourself: Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things: * no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something) * it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic . Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?