Just called to chat...

Fridays kick my butt!! I am taking a much needed break here at work and having a nice drink (it's ok, we're allowed). I remember when I used to have a job where Fridays would be the goof off/leave early day. Oh well. Anyways, I thought we could chat for a bit.

Starbucks has me all pissy lately. I still love my grande vanilla latte's, but they've been pushing their Pike's Peak roast and I'm not liking it at all. I even bought some to take home hoping that I could brew it to my liking, but nope, it's still grody and now I've wasted $10. So, Starbucks and I are going to take a break and I'm going to start seeing other Barista's. McDonald’s coffee rated better than Starbucks in a recently published taste test. Anyone agree? I tried the dark roast over at Ruta Maya today and I was so pleased!

On to the next topic...Alexandria and I were able to attend the Austin City Limits Music Festival last Sunday.



That was my first time and it was actually pretty fun!! I am deathly afraid of large crowds, so I avoid going every year even though I've received free tickets from work. I've got to hand it to them...the festival is set up very well. Gourmet food options made it a bit more exciting for me too. I was excited to see Neko Case and I got to catch Joe Bonamassa for a few minutes. On their own, they are amazing vocalists, but ACL isn't the right venue for them because they aren't backed up by a really loud band. They would really shine in a smaller club, like Antone's or La Zona Rosa. However, Gnarls Barkley and Foo Fighters were a lot of fun! They were on the main AT&T stage, which looked like it was backed up by more speakers so maybe that was the difference because you could enjoy them from a long distance. That was great since we brought our chairs; we just sat back and enjoyed the show (we got up and danced too!).

On the way to ACL we were listening to the radio and I heard the new Kings of Leon song, Sex on Fire, and I was so impressed! Its loud and pure rock n roll...I really love it. I can't say that I've ever paid attention to that band before, but I plan to check them out on Itunes later.

Here's a link to the song if you'd like to take a listen: SEX ON FIRE - via YAHOO MUSIC

Have a great weekend!

My opinion of Choke...and other movies I'm excited to see

About Choke...
I was not disapointed in the movie at all. It's off-beat, raunchy, twisted, dark and funny. You could use those same adjectives to describe a movie like Super Bad, but it's completely different because Choke feels more like "real life." If you are expecting anything like Fight Club you may be disappointed because Choke couldn't be more different. But why waste time comparing the two movies? I'd guess that the average "100 million dollar blockbuster-style" movie-goer would not like Choke and basically that's because it definitely has that indie flick vibe (low budget, shot in 3 weeks) and a lot of on-screen sex, but if you've read the book you're expecting it. The acting is terrific - from Sam Rockwell and Anjelica Houston to the random old ladies at the mental hospital that I thought were adorable (but I kind of have a soft spot for old people). In a weird way it was kind of a lovable movie and it kept me laughing the whole time (just like the book).

Movies I am looking forward to seeing...hopefully this weekend!!
Religulous
Director, Larry Charles (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Borat)
Writer, Bill Maher
Documentary: Bill Maher's take on the current state of world religion.

Burn After Reading
Directors, the Coen brothers
Comedy: A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney

so, um, hi there...

Wow. So it's been awhile, huh? How have you been? Me, oh, just fine. I got ROCKBAND (Wii) for my birthday...I kind of play it a lot. Sometimes I sew...like the other day I made some rad curtains for my living room out of this fabric:

When I get around to making the matching rad pillows I'll share some pics. I also have a kid in middle school who's in, like, a trillion different activities so that keeps me busy. Oh yea, I get to go see a sneak preview of Choke tonight courtesy of my friend, Tony. I hear it's really good (7 out of 10 stars on IMDB). It won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.

"A sex-addicted con-man pays for his mother's hospital bills by playing on the sympathies of those who rescue him from choking to death."

Choke, the movie, is based on the book by Chuck Palahniuk (my FAVE author). Chuck also wrote Fight Club. I hear some of his other novels are in production, Survivor (my #1), Invisible Monsters and Rant (which was just released a little over a year ago).

Today I started back on my work-out routine. I don't know why, but the very second I leave the gym I want to eat an entire cake...and I NEVER crave sweets. I guess I'll eat that orange I brought with me to work. yay.

I'll let ya know tomorrow what I think about this movie. toodles.

That's a darn good sale!

Just in case you were on your way out the door to buy some jeans…you might want to wait.

Old Navy’s fall for you sale denim event:
This saturday (8/23) Old Navy has jeans for adults for just $12, and $7 for kids and baby (this spot hasn’t aired yet)
**Limited edition free tote bag with $50 purchase

One day only -- what a steal!

I guess working with commercials all day has it perks.

Currently loving...

Michelada's!

(It's a drink...with alcohol)

Michelada's are a lot like a Bloody Mary, but with beer in place of Vodka and I like to sip one on the back patio on a Summer evening. With the tomato juice it's almost like having your dinner and drinks at the same time!

How does one make such a drink? Let me share...

What you will need:

-Beer, preferably of the Mexican variety. I use Corona Light because I'm watching my girlish figure

-Tomato juice (some recipe's use Clamato, but I'm not down with clam juice anywhere near my alcohol)

-worcestershire sauce

-Soy sauce

-Fresh lime juice

-Coarse salt (sea salt)

First, rim your glass with salt (if you're into that). Take a lime wedge, cut a slit and run it around the rim of your glass. Pour some coarse salt in a dish and rub the rim of your glass in the salt. Fill that glass with some ice. Pour in your beer.

To make the mix: In a mixing glass pour 6 oz. of tomato juice, squeeze one fresh lime, about 5 shakes of worcestershire sauce, about 3 shakes of soy sauce, and some coarse salt to taste (I like mine salty). If you like hot stuff then add some hot sauce to taste. Pour the mix over your beer and mix all of it together. Now you're ready to sit back and enjoy!

Not the best time to blog about...

I'm here today to talk about something very near and dear to my heart.

Tomatoes.

Photo: Every Day Moments Etsy shop

Okay, I kid. A little. My heart breaks at the thought of all of those delicious tomatoes destroyed due to the recent salmonella outbreak. Right now is peak tomato season - and if you're like me, you've been waiting for it! Few things make me happier than a home-grown tomato. Bring me one and watch my eyes light up! To my satisfaction, Yahoo posted a short article with safety tips for eating tomatoes despite the outbreak (although, technically, it's not encouraged).

Not associated with the outbreak: cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and tomatoes grown at home. Ketchup and cooked sauces are not affected by the outbreak.

Preliminary data suggest that raw red plum, Roma, or round red tomatoes are the cause, according to the FDA. To eat these tomatoes, wash thoroughly and cut away the part that is attached to the plant and the button on the other side (the non-red parts). That part can carry a food-borne illness because it's a hard area and organisms can attach themselves to it. Don't bother with a special vegetable wash; studies show that it's not much better than water.

Cooking tomatoes at 145 degrees will kill salmonella.


Print: Tomatoes and Pyrex by Amanda Kindregan

I'll still indulge in a lovely juicy tomato, but I'll be extra careful to wash it thoroughly and cut away the stemmed areas. It's best to neatly slice away those areas and wash your knife and cutting board after since the bacteria can infect the other parts of the tomato.


Print: Twin Tomato brothers illustration by I'm From Another Planet

It's not prudent of me, but I badly want to eat a tomato right now! Possibly one of my favorite dishes in the whole world is a sliced home-grown tomato with fresh basil, buffalo mozzarella, a good olive oil, cracked pepper and a generous sprinkle of sea salt. Now that's a Caprese Salad!



If you're looking for a great "home-grown", organic tomato then please visit the wonderful Boggy Creek Farm (on the East-side, near Montopolis). Market hours (only twice weekly): Wednesday and Saturday, 9am-1pm (the other days they farm). Visit the website for a current, in-season list of organic vegetables and map. At the farm you will also find Sweetish Hill bread (Saturdays) and fresh, organic meats and dairy products. I picked up a fresh whole chicken, never frozen, and oven-roasted it. I could taste the difference and it was one of the best chicken meals I've ever had!


Photo via Boggy Creek Farm website

More new stuff...blah blah blah

OMG. SO. TIRED.

I have been working non-stop to stock my Etsy shop in anticipation of my showcase spot on Thursday (today). It's past my bedtime and I'm so sleepy, but I wanted to get this posted before I snooze off on my keyboard.

LOTS of new stuff in the shop. Some older stuff is on sale. So check it out. Here's some photos too.

I promise I will start blogging about other things now that I've completed this showcase!

Good Night or Good Morning?

New organizers in my Etsy shop!

Little Lakes has been a busy bee again! I just added two new organizers to my shop!

First row is from the lovely Amy Butler "Belle" line of fabrics. This particular color selection is bold and vibrant and the colors contrast nicely.

The second row is from Joel Dewberry's Aviary line. It's a lovely damask in the girliest of color combo's - pink and light green.



Also, I just want to let you know that I am happy to do custom orders! I have a good selection of fabrics to choose from and I'm sure I can help you find something you love if you haven't already! :)

A perfect lazy Sunday afternoon...

This past Sunday I was fortunate to spend a lovely, lazy afternoon with my parents, Alex & Porgy at 5 Mile Dam in Kyle. Highly recommended!!


(borrowed image)

My husband and I found the Five Mile Dam by accident one day as we were looking for a friends’ house in Kyle. It’s a well-kept secret although it’s well-known by the locals. Situated on the banks of the Blanco River, the park is a short drive from both Austin and San Marcos, perfect for a day retreat. The area is known as Five Mile Dam, but officially, its two parks next to each other: Randall Vetter Park and Dudley Johnson Park (Hays County Park). They are virtually the same, except that Randall Vetter Park has covered picnic tables and less immediate access to the river (you’ll just have to walk a few more feet). Dudley Johnson Park has quick access to the river and lots of grassy area to sprawl out on a blanket, shady trees, picnic tables (uncovered) and outdoor grills all over. Other amenities include lots of parking, a boat launch at the West end of the Dudley Johnson side (no motorboats allowed), and outdoor port-a-potties. A word of caution: steer clear of huge red ants (their bite really hurts).


(borrowed image)

Five Mile Dam is situated on the Blanco River, but if you’re searching for a dam you’ll likely miss it. The “dam” doesn’t really appear to be a dam at all, just a rocky ledge for water overspill (see pics above). The water behind the dam is calm and fairly shallow with a few deep pockets. The characteristic white limestone that gives this river its name allows you to see the bottom easily. Access to the water is easy: just slip in from the grassy bank.
The river bank and surrounding area is a beautiful, lush, tree-covered hill country – much like Wimberley.

My photos












Directions:
From IH-35
Exit Yarrington Rd (County Rd 159) – go West (from Austin you’ll take a right, from San Marcos you’ll take a left)
Take a left on Post Rd (140)
Right on Old Stagecoach Rd (County Rd 136)
The park is on your left

Before I took my parents home we stopped off for a cone at Sandy's!

Little Lakes Etsy shop update

Little Lakes has been busy this weekend! :)

I've added two new organizers to my little shop:

1. Adorable Robert Kaufman "owl" print - features handmade bias tape in a yellow and white polka dot. The colors are vibrant and gorgeous.

2. Another lovely Amy Butler fabric from her Nigella line of decorator weight fabrics. This is one of my all-time AB designs. It's classic, modern and colorful.

I'm finally on Etsy!

Today I opened my shop doors on Etsy! My shop is called Little Lakes (a loose translation of my Spanish last name). You may remeber my teaser from back on 1.22.08??

So, what might you find at littlelakes.etsy.com? Oh, just these great organizers I design! ;)



If you're like me, you pick up papers here and there or need to keep some papers handy, but you can't just keep stuffing your purse, right? Well, that's why I came up with this design and started sewing up these little nuggets. They have a pocket for storage and a pocket for a notepad. It took me many tries to get it just right and now that I am confident it is just right I am ready to offer them up!

I love all of the gorgeous colors together...


Tara Subkoff likes to take her naps in my organizer!

Hee hee! I was trying to stuff the pocket with this magazine to show how much you can actually get in there when I noticed how odd this picture looks!





I will be posting more designs on here when they're ready. And at some point maybe I can show off some "artwork"??

Happy day.

It's about time...

...I introduce you to Porgy...my sweet new puppy who isn't really new. Porgy has been with us since January 29th. This is how I was introduced to him:

The husband brought him home and hid him in the bathroom, then called me and said there was a surprise at home. Um, I guess you could call it a surprise, although I think he wasn't sure how to tell me he brought home another dog! This is dog #4 for us!

Porgy was really shy that first day. I don't think he ever left that blanky.

He loves his naps!





If you're interested to know - he's a shih tszu/poodle mix. Since he was the runt of the litter he won't get too big, probably no more than 5-8 lbs.

Checking out your {fake} smile

I wasted some time today doing {what I consider} fun surveys at BBC Online. First up was Spot the Fake Smile. Like the title suggests, this experiment was designed to test whether you can spot the difference between a fake smile and a real one. Going in to it I thought I might be pretty good at spotting the fakers. Overall my score was 15 out of 20 - 75% = D. I almost flunked! Part of the explanation (according to BBC) "most people are surprisingly bad at spotting fake smiles. One possible explanation for this is that it may be easier for people to get along if they don't always know what others are really feeling." I can believe that.

Wonder how well you would do? Go here to take the test. It only takes minutes to complete. PS-Watch out for dood #13 -- you'll see what I mean when you get there...

Next up: What's Your Personality Type?
I already know that I'm an introvert since I've taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator questionnaire, but I can say that this test hit the nail on the head. This is me all the way! If you care to know...these are the results:

Your answers suggest you are a Nurturer

The four aspects that make up this personality type are:
PLANNER, FACTS, HEARTS, INTROVERT

Summary of Nurturers:
-Care for the important people in their lives.
-Strive for harmony and avoid confrontation.
-Think of themselves as gentle, conscientious, and mature.
-May have trouble making decisions that could hurt others.

• Nurturers are quiet people who believe in order and diligently look after the people they care about. They focus on the needs of others and establish routines to help them meet their commitments.

• Nurturers are the most likely group to say they prefer a job where the same thing happens every day, according to a UK survey. (That’s so me!)

• Nurturers remember details that are important to them, such as their friends' birthdays and anniversaries. (Although I have a terrible memory, I do remember bdays quite well since they tend to happen over and over. That redundancy-thing again!)

• People with this personality type value others' feelings and may challenge behavior they think is insensitive.

• Under extreme stress, Nurturers may become preoccupied with the worst possible outcome and believe that they are heading for disaster (any other Hypochondriac/Nurturers out there?? Holla!).

• Because they are so caring and loyal, Nurturers run the risk of being taken advantage of.

• Nurturers are often drawn to jobs that allow them to help others.

Please take the test if you have time -- I'd love to know how you do on either or both surveys, so leave me a comment! :)

This stuff they call "snow"

So, I was recently in NY for a second to visit my friend Megan. Luckily, I came just in time to experience this stuff they call "snow."


Heehee.

Being from Austin, Texas we don't see snow often. I think we got a little bit about 4 years ago. I also heard we had some good snow back in '85, but I was too young to remember. I am slightly afraid of cold weather. I guess I am quite adapted to 100+ degree temperatures because I complain that I'm cold when it's in the 60's! Naturally, I didn't know how to react when I woke up and saw this outside the bedroom window.



(slight) Panic was my first reaction. I didn't feel prepared to go outside...that one day it snowed in Austin I never even stepped out the door. I thought it would be unbearably cold. I was NOT looking forward to this, but you know what?...it was totally okay! In fact, it was pretty amazing. Central Park was a sight to behold. So pristine with all of that fluffy snow. People were out with their kids and dogs, some on skii's, some making snowmen. I have to say it was one of the best days I've ever had.

(Photos below of Central Park at 96th street entrance. Click to enlarge)








Thanks to Megan, Karen & Adome for making this trip possible. XOXO

Run Meg, Run!

(She is proabably going to shriek when she sees that I posted this!)

I just want to do an old-school shout out to my dear friend Megan for completing the Austin Marathon this past Sunday! There was no doubt she would, but in my eyes, that's quite an accomplishment.

-Finished in 3hours, 32 minutes!

-Ranked 78 out of 2,000 women!

WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU CARROT!!

I-Heart-Soup

I like to make a homemade pot of soup at least once a week. Usually, it's of the chicken soup variety, but yesterday I tried a potato version. This soup tastes thick and creamy without the use of fatty cream, but with the help of a little flour. It's extremely easy and fast to make -- about 30 minutes total. Overall, this soup is definitely a crowd pleaser and the ingredients are probably already in your fridge or pantry...gotta love that!


photo via Eating is Believing

Baked Potato Soup
Serves 6

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour
4 cups milk
2 cups peeled and chopped potatoes
4 green onions, chopped and divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
2-4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Directions:
1. Melt butter in a pot over low heat; add flour and stir until it's smooth.
2. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute until it thickens and bubbles. Note: it thickened immediately for me, so you may be able to skip this short step.
3. Gradually stir in the milk. Stir in the potatoes, half the green onions, salt and pepper.
4. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, 30 minutes or until thickened and the potatoes are done and cooked. Again, for me it did not take 30 minutes to cook the potatoes, so this estimate of time may be much shorter for you.
5. Stir in 1 cup of cheese and cook for about 5 minutes more.
6. Serve the soup with the remaining cheese, green onions and bacon on top.

I found the baked potato soup recipe on the Start Cooking blog (by the way, rated in the top 5 cooking blogs by Real Simple magazine), which directs you to the Eating is Believing blog.

My tips:
-If you have to run to the bathroom or answer the phone or do anything that will take you away from the pot for more than a couple of minutes then remove the pot from the burner. This soup really does have to be stirred often or it will start to burn on the bottom.
-If you don't normally keep bacon in the house and you don't want to buy a whole package just for this recipe then you can pick up a couple of slices of bacon at the deli of your grocery store.
-I use my kitchen scissors to snip the green onions. It's sooooo much faster than cutting.

Congratulations and be prosperous

The new moon of February 7, 2008 rings in the lunar year, the year of the rat! Celebrated throughout much of Asia, and around the world anywhere large Asian communities reside, the Lunar New Year is marked by 15 days of celebrations in honor of new beginnings. Festivities are centered around family and community gatherings and include flower festivals, dragon parades, firework displays and often culminate in a lantern festival synchronizing with the full moon.

Symbolized by the rat, the first of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, this year is especially favorable for renewal of all kinds. It is said that how you spend the first day of the new year will reflect how the rest of year follows, so gather your loved ones, eat some delicious food and make it a good one!

Moons Creations

Mythology
According to legend, in ancient China, the Nián was a man-eating beast from the mountains (in other versions from under the sea), which came out every 12 months somewhere close to winter to prey on humans. The people later believed that the Nian was sensitive to loud noises and the color red, so they scared it away with explosions, fireworks and the liberal use of the color red. These customs led to the first New Year celebrations. Guò nián, which means to celebrate the new year, literally means the passover of the Nian.

The Rat

The Rat was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity. It is the first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. Rat is associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order, yet also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities.

Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiacs, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.

Viva Ortegacy

Traditionally, Rats should avoid Horses, but they can usually find their best friends and love interests in Monkeys, Dragons, and Oxen.

Professions include espionage, psychiatry, psychology, writing, politics, law, engineering, accounting, detective work, acting, and pathology.

Lucky Bunny

My musical hero

Today is the birthday of Rasta legend, Bob Marley...

Born: Robert Nesta Marley in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica

February 6, 1945 - May 11, 1981

February 6 is Bob Marley Day in the city of Toronto, Canada (18 yrs)

You park like (S**T)

The really demented side of me is making me post this. I can't help it though. This is funny as hell.

From Mixedspecies Etsy shop

"We've all had this experience, you're skating back to your car in your best Sunday dress only to find that some jackass has boxed you in. Now I've slashed a fair share of tires in my day but as you can see these days I'm an upstanding pillar of the community and have to resort to a more nuanced approach. These fine "you park like shit" static cling notes are reusable can be applied to wet or dry glass. Static clings are easy to remove and leave no sticky residue. 'You park like shit' static clings come in packs of six wrapped in recycled record album covers. "

$5 - buy here

Ugh. I feel gross. I just ate a whole 3 oz. bag of Famous Amos cookies. I need to lie down.