Category: 7 Quick Takes (Fridays)

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 79)

February 10th, 2012 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), memory 13 comments - Tags: ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we mortify ourselves by reading old journal entries.


Youtube Link


2.

In digging up entries to share for the vlog, I noticed that most of the journal entries I found in early years of college consisted of me choosing the guys who didn’t really like me over the guys who would surprise me in my dorm room and serenade me with N’SYNC songs while doing their dances or the guys who made me John Coltrane CDs for Valentine’s because they accurately guessed that my boyfriend at the time would not get me anything for Valentine’s Day. Or guys who dedicated Coldplay’s Yellow to me. There were so many sweet guys who did so many sweet things, and I repeatedly picked the guys who canceled on me or insulted me or even threw things at me. Younger Linda was so incredibly stupid!


3.


I really enjoy the company of my coworkers.


Youtube Link

He also does the Lindy Hop.


4.

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away! This is the first year in I can’t remember how long that I’m not sending love notes and pink socks to my single girlfriends. I’m saddened to break my own tradition but I’ve just been so focused on other things like paying for Bloggers in Sin City, car bumpers, speeding tickets, and anniversary presents. I will just have to do a better job celebrating my favorite holiday next year.


5.

In less than a week, Nicole, Ashley, and Treavor will be in Austin for the weekend! I can’t wait to share martinis, eat Nutella stuffed cookies, and watch Ryan Gosling with the best company.


6.

My sister bought me a plane ticket to see her for an entire week this summer! I was still in junior high the last time I saw her so this trip makes me equal parts happy, excited, and nervous. What do you talk about after all that time has passed?


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ BFF got her Masters! ♥ reading all 99 tiny stories in this article ♥ acing my first tomato basil soup ♥ bringing chocolate cake with my favorite icing for lunch ♥ finishing my 7th book of the year ♥ my Sketchbook Project has officially been received and cataloged in the Brooklyn Art Library ♥ volunteering at the food bank with lovely food bloggers ♥ chocolate ♥ puppy cuddles ♥ puppy doesn’t need to be taken out so much anymore ♥ emailing my reactions to Mad Men and One Day to Kim ♥ banh mi ♥ so much coffee


Question: What is your favorite Valentine’s Day memory?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 78)

February 3rd, 2012 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), videos 17 comments - Tags: ,


1.

It’s the last week of January on Totes Awesome Channel, which means free vlog week!


Youtube Link

I’m sick and I tell you how I got sick. I also explain a few Asian Wedding traditions, tell you what I’m reading, and show you my breakfast.


2.

Yesterday while at work, I received this creepy prank call.

No idea who it was. Probably a friend messing with me. I suspect I was extra spooked because I had just seen this picture and am reading a book about psychopaths.


3.

I’m sure you’ve heard about Susan G. Komen pulling funding from Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings, but have you signed the petition?

I won’t be “running” their race again this year.

Update: I love the power of social media and how it has changed the range of activism. http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/02/komen-apologizes-for-recent-de.html


4.


I really loved the blush one shouldered dress I wore last weekend for a wedding. You can’t see my shoes but they matched perfectly with a shimmery giant bow to the side.

I can’t wait til enough time has passed and there’s a reason to wear it again. (I admit I don’t like repeat outfits in my Facebook albums unless enough time has passed.)


5.


Tonight I’m meeting up with Anita and Ashley. I’ve never met Anita before but she’s going to Bloggers in Sin City and lives in Austin! We’re gathering for a girls’ night in to get to know each other before our trip! I just discovered that Anita is involved with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America like I am and also share the same favorite cupcake establishment.

Anyway, I’m excited. I haven’t seen Ashley since July!


6.

I think about Bob a lot when I’m at work. Is that normal? Alan and I left Bob with Deesh and Bing and their dog, Rogue over the weekend. You should have seen us laying in bed in the hotel room and flipping through pictures of Bob. We were THOSE kind of dog parents.



7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ BFF coming to a close on her Masters ♥ making chicken and rice porridge for our sick selves ♥ submitting a grant at work without any drama ♥ February is here! ♥ Girls’ Night with Anita and Ashley tonight ♥ authentic Chinese food date with Bing and Deesh ♥ a mellow dog ♥ completing my Sketchbook Project on time ♥ online chat with an old friend ♥ John Coltrone ♥ chocolate croissant ♥ going down memory lane both horrified and tickled by inappropriate wall postings after getting Timeline on Facebook ♥ date night


Question: What are you looking forward to?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 77)

January 27th, 2012 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays) 22 comments - Tags: , ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we discuss our superstitions.


Youtube Link

I talk about some weird ones I inherited from my mom. Like not gifting drinking glasses, cups, or mugs. It’s supposed to mean the friendship would end. So if I were to give you cups or mugs, I’d ask for a quarter or something to simulate selling instead of gifting. I also talk about two Arabic phrases I picked up as superstitions. Comment below and let me know what your superstitions are. I’d love to know!


2.

Happy Lunar New Year! It’s the year of the Dragon. I meant to mention some Lunar New Year superstitions. A lot of these might just be Vietnamese but here are the ones passed on to me from my mom. We are to eat vegetarian for good luck the first day of the holiday (It’s a two week holiday.) The first day of the year, you’re supposed to have a fairly clean house but you’re not supposed to clean. Also, no taking out the trash! It symbolizes throwing out money. I also read from another Vietnamese blogger that you’re supposed to not wash your hair for that same reason and wear red for prosperity.

I wore red but my hair needs to be washed everyday.


3.

I’ve had these kids I babysit for since they were both born. They’re the only kids I babysit. I truly love them. Really. I will always babysit them til they no longer need it or I’m no longer in the same city. Anyway, I’m digging their conversations lately.

4 Year Old:
I had a bad day

8 Year Old:
How come you had a bad day?

4 Year Old:
The other kids laughed at me during lunch.

8 Year Old:
[Redacted], when I was your age and kids laughed at me, I just pretended they weren’t even in the room.

4 Year Old:
Oh! Okay. I’ll try that next time.


4.

One of my goals is to have my mom meet Bob. She’s terrified of dogs. My parents live close to where they run their store. She once walked to the store carrying my dad’s dinner that she had just cooked when a neighborhood dog approached her. What did she do? She threw my dad’s dinner at it!

Recently she cooked me a huge batch of bone marrow. I love bone marrow. (Refer to my Totes Awesome Channel vlog about ideal meals.) I posted the picture of mom’s bone marrow on Facebook and my crass Best Dudie Friend commented, “Oh No! I’m going to miss you, Bob!” I thought it was hilarious and told my mom that BDF thinks she cooked up Bob.

“Tell him how can I cook Bob when I don’t even want to TOUCH Bob?”


5.

The Sketchbook Project needs to be postmarked by Tuesday and I have 13 more pages to complete! Panic!! I’ll be out of town this weekend and busy too so it’ll leave me Sunday night and Monday night. Last year by the first of the year, I had all the pages planned and mostly done! Anyway, want to see two pages of what I have done?

Hee.


6.

I took today off of work because we’re going to Dallas for the weekend for a wedding. Sadly, there won’t be any time for us to stop by In ‘N Out. I guess I will just wait til when I go to Vegas!


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ a close friend to laugh with and make cleaning dog poop out of my car bearable ♥ a well-timed hug ♥ a supreme burger along side chili cheese fries and a decadent nutella milkshake with chocolate covered pretzel crumbles ♥ new music from Treavor and Peter ♥ planning Valentines with a few girlfriends ♥ authentic Chinese food date with Brandi ♥ cuddles ♥ vote of confidence from Cindy ♥ Deesh and Bing taking in Bob for the weekend ♥ blueberries and strawberries in my cereal ♥ BDF helping my friends draft professional correspondences ♥ BFF helping me come up with 7 quick takes ♥ one of my favorite months drawing near


Question: What are some of your superstitions?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 76)

January 20th, 2012 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), videos, wanderlust, We Blog We Vlog 24 comments - Tags: , ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we discuss our Myers-Briggs personality types.


Youtube Link

I’m an ENFJ. What are you?


2.


January 20th is Penguin Awareness Day! Did you know that? Last year with We Blog, We Vlog, we honored the day by vlogging about a long journey we plan on embarking on in 2011. This year we’re doing it again! Anyone can participate. Find out how here.


Youtube Link

I mentioned the trips I hope to take this year (Pittsburgh, Marfa, Vegas, Seattle, and somewhere in Kansas) and my more abstract journey is to find that dang calling.


3.

I’ve been spackling up my life. Made that dreaded dentist appointment. Scheduled more walking time in hopes to flirt with a more active life. Morning pages are written more often than not. Finally logged into my LinkedIn account and uploaded a profile picture and accepted all my invites. I love baby steps and breaking down big goals into tiny actions. I want this year to be a great year and that’s going to require a lot of due diligence.


4.


I cut my finger yesterday. I did not respect the knife or the lemongrass stalk and the knife rolled. Thank goodness my nail was in the way because I think I would have cut off my fingertip had the nail not slow it down. My oldest half brother actually cut off his fingertip. If I do it too, it might mean something. Anyway, I never made that lemongrass chicken but plan to try again tomorrow? I’m a little skittish now. Hope it heals quickly! Putting pressure on it is unbearable. I couldn’t buckle my jeans this morning!


5.

Speaking of jean buckles, my jean button fell off during work this week. I borrowed a graduate student’s belt to keep my pants up. Oh and I got a parking ticket. My life is in shambles!


6.

This quotation is why I have a standing Take 7.

“For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don’t enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are that you’re not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.”
– Andy Rooney


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ puppy snores ♥ Madam Mams with Cindy ♥ Madam Mams again to help me eat my feelings after I cut my finger ♥ date night ♥ registering for Bloggers in Sin City ♥ one particularly well-timed hug ♥ having a belt available to borrow after the button to my jeans fell off ♥ our president signing Al Green ♥ Rick Perry withdrawing from the race ♥ reading time ♥ cookie butter ♥ 4 day work week ♥ green tea ice cream parfait and tonpei yaki at Kome


Question: What small tasks have you completed that is setting the tone for grander things?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 75)

January 13th, 2012 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), Bob, creative play, silver screen 26 comments - Tags: , , ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we talk about our favorite childhood movies.


Youtube Link

What were some of yours? As listed in my video, mine were Mrs. Doubtfire, Princess Bride, and Beethoven.


2.


It was 6 in the evening on Sunday when I found myself with dinner already made (thank you, slow cooker!), the boyfriend gone for another couple of hours, and the dog exhausted and napping. I decided to treat myself to a movie and some alone time on my couch. I rarely get alone time on the couch. I randomly picked HappyThankYouMorePlease from Netflix instant play, and I was so pleasantly surprised. Very uplifting. If you find time this weekend for some couch time, I recommend watching it.

I’m posting the trailer but wait! Before you watch it, maybe don’t spoil the movie and just trust me. I think part of the joy for me was not knowing anything about the movie before seeing it.


Youtube Link


3.


Speaking of movies, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was an amazingly done movie. I left very impressed. Three hours and not once did I want it to stop. I don’t want to recommend it though. Watch if you can stomach sexual violence in movies. The movie made me want to give the book series a second try.


4.


A couple of bloggers gifted me some awesome spreads. I haven’t been to the grocery store this week but I must remember the bread!


The homemade grape jelly and marshmallow fluff were sent to me from the food swap I participated in as a member of the Austin Food Bloggers Alliance. The cookie butter was part of a gift box my sweet friend, Danielle sent me. She sent me a loot of journals! I LOVE JOURNALS!

The journal loot and cookie butter as aforementioned:



5.

Sketchbook Project 2012 needs to be postmarked by January 31st. Last year when I did Sketchbook 2011, I had all the pages started on and most of them completed by the first day of the year. It’s now January 12th and I have over twenty blank pages! PANIC! This weekend I strive to start ten pages. Wish me luck. I need it.


A couple of the sparse pages I have done


6.

I taught Bob how to roll over in less than 30 minutes this week! It’s still touch and go though. The next day he rolled over for “sit,” “lay” and “shake.” We’re still reinforcing it every night. Here he is last night.


Youtube Link


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ being treated to a home cooked Korean lunch ♥ a full journal loot from Danielle ♥ warm chocolate cookies while watching a movie ♥ date night ♥ Vietnamese coffee and licking the condensed milk spoon ♥ planning Valentine surprises with girl friends ♥ reading 1984 makes me grateful for my thoughts and books ♥ three day weekend ♥ morning pages ♥ pizza night (no cooking and cleaning!) ♥ using up Groupons before they expire ♥ monthly credit card cycle starting over ♥ getting to know my sister slowly through emails


Question: What are three highlights from your week?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 74)

January 6th, 2012 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), Bob 30 comments - Tags: ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we talk about our hopes for 2012.


Youtube Link

I’ve pretty much summed up what I hope for 2012 in this post and my resolutions post. Travel, read, find a calling (no big deal), and have some good times with my loved ones.


2.


My most recent loot from the library:


3.


I talk to BFF every weekday for hours and sometimes on the weekend. Sometimes, it hits me that she’s my best friend and we can’t grab a casual lunch or dinner or sit on a couch together because she lives in Boston. Then I realize a lot of my closest friends are long distance and though, I’m usually a positive person and am just thankful for technology and yearly visits, sometimes I would just like to be spontaneous with my closest friends and call to ask, “Yo. Can I come over?”


4.

This week has been not so good for sleep. I’ve averaged about 4 hours this week and I’ve already acclimated myself to almost 6 hours. Thank goodness for Vietnamese coffee! I’ve been drinking Vietnamese coffee all week and that stuff is so dang strong it has me wired all the way past my bedtime. (Rinse, repeat.) Today, I skipped out on the coffee since I’ve been wired all week and actually had 6 hours of sleep. The consequences of my lack of coffee are pitiful. I’ve been in a mental haze all day. Thank goodness, it’s Friday!


5.


Bob had a great first week of the year. Extra long walks at the park, lots of fetch, new toys, first cup of doggy ice cream. Really! They make doggy ice cream. We found some at our grocery store, Central Market. I also taught him a new command in less than 10 minutes. He now knows the “lay down” command! I think in a few weeks, I’ll tackle rolling over.


6.


Weekend To Do List
1. Meal plan and grocery shop
2. Go out for a friend’s birthday celebration
3. Walk with dog and my little from Big Brothers and Big Sisters
4. Start on 10 separate pages in my Sketchbook Project
5. Thank you notes
6. Lunch date with girlfriends


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ making beignets for friends ♥ romantic and decadent fondue date with my girlfriend, Naz! ♥ mocha pound cake ♥ four day work week ♥ finally cooking a meal for Deesh ♥ walking the lake with friend and pup ♥ Sarah who now lives in California driving to and from Houston (approximately 6 hours!) for a lunch date ♥ friends who let me be petty and have petty thoughts while still not enabling me (what a miraculous balance!) ♥ puppy snores ♥ teaching Bob “lay down” in 10 minutes ♥ staying awake in a movie showing after 9 pm (Mission Impossible 4!) ♥ perfect attendance week on Totes Awesome Channel ♥ giving Bob his first doggy ice cream


Question: How was your first week of the year?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 73)

December 23rd, 2011 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), creative play 24 comments - Tags: , ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we talk about Christmas.


Youtube Link

I’ve never been a big fan of Christmas but I made positive changes this year. I even made Christmas cookies. It’s kind of fun to see my photo album in December of last year had NO Christmas related photos. This year’s December album ONLY has Christmas related photos.


2.

As part of my Do-It-Yourself December, I made cookies last week! Brandi helped me with piping. You see how far I had come after icing 57 cookies with her.



3.


I drove into Houston Wednesday night to make my Thursday morning appointment at the car body shop. My bumper isn’t fully on and after having a very scary episode driving with it flapping against my tire last month, I thought it’s time I just fix the problem permanently and replace the bumper. I had no idea how long it was going to take (I guessed a day) or how much it would cost (300?). I was so off! They will have my car the entire time I’m in Houston, which is Thursday to Monday and it’s going to cost me 600!

It hurts a lot. Out 600 dollars and no transportation? Luckily, the people I planned on seeing are willing to bear Houston traffic to come get me and drop me off again.


4.

One such friend is Cindy. We exchanged tiny gifts. I kept telling her how my gift was super tiny (literally! I got her mini business cards). She kept telling me, “don’t worry, my gift for you is tiny too.” I don’t think either of us knew the other meant it very literally.

She handed me a blue ball with a note that said:

It was the most fun I’ve ever had unwrapping a gift. She wrapped my entire gift in crepe paper and as I unraveled, one by one tiny little gifts with notes explaining why she thought I was awesome popped out.



5.


I don’t know if you know this about me, but I love me some journals, especially themed journals. I’m really going to start writing in that tiny journal Cindy gifted me. I’ll even share with you my first entry. I can limit each entry to 140 characters!


6.

Last night, I found an old frame in my Houston bedroom and in the spirit of making something everyday for my Do-It-Yourself December, I stuck in pretty paper, stickered the front, and made a Menu Plan wipe board. I don’t have any of my paints with me, but I think when I get back into Austin, I’ll paint out the days of the week. The marker quality in the photo is sub par because I used a decade old Crayola marker instead of an actual dry erase marker.

Now Alan will always know what’s for dinner. Yes, that’s actually the week’s plan once I get back. He’s on his own for most of this coming week.


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ unwrapping Cindy’s present ♥ overdue sit down and chat time with Naz ♥ overdue sit down and chat time with Cindy ♥ Mom’s pho ♥ buttery food ♥ my friends picking me up and driving me around in traffic ♥ mom fixing the sewing machine I thought I broke ♥ having an emergency fund to yet again bail me out of car troubles ♥ funny text messages with Brittany ♥ picture texts from Alan of Bob ♥ seeing Christmas lights with Alan and Bob ♥ glitter tattoos ♥ bone marrow


Wishing you and your loved ones a happy holiday!

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 72)

December 16th, 2011 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America, holidays, pursuit of happiness 25 comments - Tags: ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we talk about dreams.


Youtube Link

I dream about food a lot and once my friend and I both dreamed the same dream on the same night.


2.

I haven’t touched either of my blogs all week. I’ve been feeling kind of insignificant and withdrawn. That I’m not doing anything worthwhile. I know this feeling will pass and it’s really a symptom of my not knowing where I’m supposed to be going. I’m almost out of my twenties and still knee deep in that Quarter Life Crisis. I’m slowly pulling out of this mood by telling myself to have patience and to keep searching.


3.


I could start a new category on my blog about my extracurricular failures. I tried using the sewing machine for the first time without my mom hovering. Luckily I used scrap fabric to practice before attempting sofa cushions because I totally mucked it up.

I got all tangled up and could not extract the scrap from my machine. The machine (with attached piece of fabric) is going back to Houston with me to get more lessons from momma.

Oops!


4.

Speaking of failure, I ordered my Christmas gift for my niece and nephew. I’ve never met them. My sister and I lost touch for 16 years and finally reconnected over Facebook last year. Anyway, the package was delivered December 7th. Perfect timing to wrap it with my sister’s gift and mail it. Except I totally shipped it to my old apartment and now it’s in forwarding limbo. It has been “forwarding” since the 7th and I only live 20 miles away from my old address. It’s likely I won’t be able to ship it out in time. I’m already failing at being an aunt!

Grumble, grumble.


5.

I’ve been conscious about being a little more receptive of Christmas cheer. I went to three holiday parties last weekend! Fun ones too. My friend Jamie hosted a potluck, I went to the annual Christmas party for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Austin Food Bloggers Alliance had a little party. It was my fourth BBBS Christmas party with my little. I’m loving that we’ve been matched together for almost 4 years now! Lastly, I joined the Austin Food Bloggers Alliance for a competitive game of White Elephant. I got too greedy and picked the most popular gift (mandolin) and got stuck with a corkscrew. (The theme was kitchen gadgets.)



I’ve tweeted at Shelley for two years now and we finally met at the Austin Food Blogger’s Christmas Party!

P.S. Christmas music still makes me want to gag.


6.

Speaking of Christmas cheer, I received some goodies in the mail! Abby sent me a pretty journal. I’m nearing the end of mine and am thinking about jumping straight to the one she got me. (I always have a few blank journals in a queue.) Bree sent me a surprise package. Postman told me it looked like it had gone through war. Hee. She got me a novel, wine journal (I LOVE THEMED JOURNALS!), and wine flashcards. I’m on my way to becoming a lush! Thank you, ladies!

My sister sent me a fun package that included a mini red Christmas tree! Y’all know my Christmas decor is very limited (4 stockings and 3 snow globes), so this tree really livens up my dining table.


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ making my first successful pumpkin pies ♥ having a focus for my Sketchbook Project ♥ I have a relationship with my sister! ♥ gorging on ginger snaps ♥ puff pastry ♥ cheese ♥ persimmons ♥ making it through a really long and cranky week ♥ dreaming about 2012 ♥ emergency chocolate stash ♥ sweet package from Abby ♥ surprise package from an anonymous friend ♥ surprise package from Bree


Question: When’s the last time you made a mistake? Tell me about it.

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 71)

December 9th, 2011 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays) 25 comments - Tags: ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we chat about how our friends feel about us blogging.


Youtube Link

In short, my friends are cool with it.


2.

I’ve been reflecting on 2011, recap to come at the end of December. I’ve had a great year for the most part and am scheming and dreaming about 2012. I love the feel of a fresh new year!


3.

I’m slightly behind in my 31 DIY projects for December but only slightly. I am going to attempt sofa cushions this weekend! This week I added to my Sketchbook Project (forgot to snap those photos) and made a Christmas greeting card.


4.



I sent that Christmas card off along with my package for the Austin Food Blogger’s Alliance Gift Swap. The Austin group is swapping with bloggers from Boston Food Blogs. It’s my first blogger gift exchange and it’s so fun!

I’ll show you what I got Teresa after I’m sure she received her package. I always feel great about the things I gift if I want to keep them for myself and I totally wanted to keep everything. I kept smelling the box the day I sent it out. Smelled so good!


5.

I got sick on Monday so this week has been kind of a lazy week. I did manage to cook 2 of the nights and crossed off 1 more person off my Christmas list. I still feel kind of unproductive. Can’t wait to get back into it this weekend. Cleaning, unpacking bags from Thanksgiving (shameful, I know), Christmas shopping, and Christmas parties! This former scrooge is going to Christmas parties! Emphasis on the plural.


6.

Dear friend of Totes Awesome Channel, our dearest friend Nico, who also put together our intro, started to make gifs for us. Let me show off our little collection.



Mine totally makes me want to go, “Weeee!”


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ sick day full of naps and Felicity ♥ close parking spots to office ♥ doggy hugs ♥ date night ♥ sharing a one person recliner with a full size dude and medium size dog ♥ goodies in the mail ♥ sales ♥ this video ♥ homemade banana bread ♥ emergency work stash of locally based dark chocolate ♥ persimmons ♥ awesome coupon deals ♥ take 6


Question: What was the best gift you’ve given?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 70)

December 2nd, 2011 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), Bob, videos 36 comments - Tags: , ,


1.

It’s the last week of November which means free topic week over at Totes Awesome Channel!


Youtube Link

I demonstrate some dance moves in this video and tell you why I’ve never really been a fan of Christmas.


2.

This is why Bob can’t have nice things.

Lucky for that dog, that pillow he destroyed is not the dog bed I recently made him. He sleeps on that pillow when he’s in the kennel! Now what are you going to sleep on, Bob? Huh?


3.

Today marks the 2nd day of my Do-It-Yourself December. I’m dedicating this month to being creative and making stuff (or crap). My personal rules are as follows:

  1. Make something (anything even if it’s crap) everyday.
  2. For the days I don’t have anything to make, I must work on at least one page of my Sketchbook Project.
  3. I also have 2 free days because I made Bob that doggy bed and tried my hand at coasters (crap coasters). Thus, for every extra project I attempt I get one free pass for busy or uninspired days.

Doggy bed and crap coasters:



4.

Adding on to Take 3, since yesterday I was uninspired, I finally started working on my sketchbook for Sketchbook Project 2012. They’ve sent me this sketchbook in July and I haven’t done a thing with it til yesterday.


I painted my sketchbook covers! Kind of neat how I went from not having any earthly idea what to paint to having a cover I really like in just minutes.


5.



National Blog Posting Month is OVER! It was a lot easier than it was the first time I did it, which I guess isn’t saying much. Still, it was a lot easier which proves to me that sometimes just sitting down in front of a blank text box (or sketchbook) and just start typing (or painting), you might come up with something!


6.

I’ve tried almost 50 recipes this year. I think my success rate is about 90 percent. I had a very bad miss this week.

8 hours in the crock pot was WAY too long for that poor chicken dish.


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ National Blog Posting Month is over! ♥ nutella milkshake with chocolate covered pretzel crumbles (can I mention this twice?) ♥ delicious American Kobe beef burger with brie and arugula and caramelized onions ♥ my bad dog pushing his boundaries ♥ finally starting my sketchbook ♥ video chat with Alan’s friend in the Philippines (we haven’t seen him in a year!) ♥ got my niece and nephew crossed off for Christmas ♥ my emergency fund (seriously, accrue yourself one!) ♥ unintentional 4 day work week (a silver lining of having car troubles) ♥ annual work chilli cook off ♥ caffeine ♥ Christmas lights ♥ nutella milkshake with chocolate covered pretzel crumbles


Question: What’s on your Christmas list?