well, this is awkward...

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this so much more than I did. I think I set my expectations too high.
It had me for the first half. But something switched over and I suddenly felt like I was reading a completely different book that just had the same names as S&S.
It wasn't the addition of sea monster that got me either, I'm not that level of an Austen purist. Those bits were all fun and entertaining. But rather, the sudden out of character behavior in order to benefit the sea monster aspect, in some cases downplaying/overlooking major canon plot points needed for the overall story, replacing them with dramatic sea battles, that after the first few instances, made me want to shake some of the characters. Sorry, but Elinor would not look on with a "shrug, I'll just ignore the servant being eaten by a narwhal" attitude.
I also wasn't on board with new story lines added, simply because they didn't seem to go anywhere. There was a whole plot with Margaret that I was genuinely interested in reading, but it kept getting pushed aside so Willoughby could whine about his bad choices, and then it completely fell off.
I'm also suspicious that the author hates Brandon which could be a whole other rant.
I liked the concept, and the sea monster parts were great I just wanted more of the characters (and their personalities) I love from S&S to be there. If it was a standard novel, I'd probably like it a lot more.

View all my reviews

recipe schmecipe!

I should probably start by saying I don't cook. I microwave and use boxed meals. Me and Sandra Lee should be bff.

So I decided to make pesto cavatappi....why? Cause I'm crazy, I love it, and can't justify going to Noodles n' Co. all the time.

The basil pesto turned into half spinach half basil pesto, cause damn, is mass basil expensive! And pine nuts! What do people do with these things that the supply-demand means "take all of my money"?

Anyways....since I'm alive, it's probably safe to say I cooked the mushrooms properly. Also I skipped the cheese, cause, well, I ate all the cheese I had.

Final verdict: delicious!

Also, it's gorgeous weather-wise in Chicago. Time to break out the cute dresses and plan a trip to the dunes!

end of winter...one more hat!

 Winter's almost over! Pretty sure I'm one of a very few people in Chicago who loves winter. I just really love hats, and layering, and snow, and all that jazz!

Also, now I can look even more like a Gelfling/Hobbit/elf/Whoville resident...take your pick.

Pattern: Capucine by Adela Illichmanova

some things and stuff

I think I'm getting the hang of this cross stitch. Also, Downton Abbey cross stitch, yes please! From the lovely Etsy shop Book Pilgrim Cross Stitch.

Also knitted a headband...ear warmer....this. Came out a bit big, but oh well, my head's just small.

I'm also in love with my new coffee cup.

Just another Saturday.

tea time!

It's finally finished!

That is all.

blame the meds

Today was a less crappy day of recovery than this weekend. Less swollen, less bruised, less feeling like a leper all around. Cried a bit. Had a wee bit of wine. Fought some lego death eaters. Recipe for sanity.
This came in the mail! I've been wanting to dress as a Hidden Temple contestant for years and I finally convinced a group of friends to do it for Capricon in a couple of weeks! Cause, seriously, I did not want to do it solo for Halloween like a chump.

And because I couldn't find light bulbs to replace one that burned out in my rooms (also, standing for too long still makes me dizzy), I managed to finally put these up.

Yeah. Not much else going on. Doing a lot of trashy TV time. Also reading. So much reading.

it's like vacation...only with more medicine and an inability to leave the house

So yeah. I had surgery and am now confined to my apartment for the next couple of weeks. It's like vacation....only, you know, I'm avoiding people, mirrors, and putting on real clothes.

It hasn't been completely boring. Aside from watching all of the Hulu and Netflix, I've managed to get a lot of not so important things done.

Like catch up on important news....

Turns out, I'm not Taylor Lautner's type.

Learned important life lessons, such as Highlanders are the worst and best idea. Also, coloring is fraking awesome!

I've also gotten a lot of crafting done. Finally finished all but the words on my Flight of the Conchords tea party cross stitch.

And am halfway through knitting a scarf....which I have no real need for, I just like the colors and wanted to knit while watching TV (p.s., the scarf is purple, dark pink, and brown, not whatever the picture decided to be...curse my limited lighting!)

Also got these cute get well cards from Susan and Ashlee!

This one was a joke card, it says whore on the inside. My friends are the best!

I'm now off to read more of my trashy book and watch a ridiculous amount of TV.

Lost At Sea by Bryan Lee O'Malley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not bad, but not great either. I did like reading a graphic novel that didn't really have a definite conclusion (i.e. and then everything was fixed/broken/something...the end). It was more like reading a graphic version of someone's journal. Relate-able, often funny, mostly sad.

View all my reviews

oh, you pretty thing!

Guess who's birthday is today!?!

YEPE! David effing Bowie, that's who!

I've been in love with this man since I was about four and watch Labyrinth an unhealthy amount of times. Oh, how angry I was at such a young age that Sarah didn't stay with him. I was too young to know who he even was, but once I did, I was hooked and never looked back. Music, movies, books and everything else he's ever done, there's nothing I don't love about Mr. David Robert Jones.

Pretty sure, he's ruined me for all men, and I'm totally fine with that. I can listen and/or watch him all day, he never fails to be just what I need for nearly any occasion or mood. It's sappy, I know, but I don't care. 65 and still an amazing human being.

New toy!

I plan to melt and then eat so many things!
And yes, the picture is kinda janky cause it was taken with my phone.

what a way to start the year

Yesterday, I managed to stay in bed, not put on proper clothes, finished the third season of Merlin, and bought a Ciel Phantomhive wig  for future cosplaying.

I’d say it was a successful day.

Also, the cranberry-apple pie I made Dan was a success! Sandra Lee would have been proud.

I went to Renegade and all I got were some things

Yeah....I forgot how overwhelming and crowded the Winter Renegade Craft Fair is.
It was fun though!
I didn't get/see/do as much as I wanted to cause of the mass of people, but I did get these two things! I feel like such an adult.

 

In other news: I've yet to decorate the apartment or successfully purchase any holiday gifts for anyone. I think I'm failing December so far. Hopefully, this will change this week.

in which I recycle for nostalgia

I don't get to go to the library as much as I want to, mostly cause I constantly forget to return books, cause I'm bad at setting deadlines for myself.

But excuses aside, I love libraries. And do not like that library cards are no longer the way to mark when something's due. I don't know about other cities, but here in Chicago, we now get receipts. Really? Receipts. I lose those in the bottom of my bag and under my bed when tossing them out of my pants.

I miss library cards.

So, this happened!

I bought t some recycled, multi-colored library cards and made these cute-sy bookmarks. Inspired by Hogwarts house colors (if Hogwarts was more pastel).

Here they are!

The cards are from Knot & Bow, which has so many cute things, it took a lot of will power not to buy half the things on there.

Step 1: Trim them down to what seemed like a good "bookmark" width. Luckily, that just so happened to be enough so you can still see all the important bits.

 
Step 2: Punch some holes!

 
Step 3: Add ribbon. I also used a little fabric glue to keep the parts where the ribbon attached together and sturdy.

Sandra Lee is shaking her head at me

I love cheesecake.

So, I decided to make homemade pumpkin cheesecake. From scratch. Vegan to boot so my roommates could eat them. Also, cupcake size. Cause, why not?

This is what went down...

 Taking my nervousness out on graham crackers.

 The crust doesn't look right, but hey, the internet said to make it this way. To the oven!

Bad idea...I owe someone a new cupcake pan. Oh well....moving on!

 Should I go to the store for pumpkin spice? Nah! I know what's in it.

 Second attempt. Went much better. Don't bake it, who knew? Apparently, a different website.

 Teeeeeeny batch. 

 To the fridge with you!

This all happened yesterday. They've yet to fully set so it's more like a cheesecake custard, but at least they taste like they should!

And that's why, I should not be allowed in the kitchen alone.

Renegade 2011

It's been a few years since I've been to Renegade Craft Fair, and that's a shame! It was glorious! I was a bit on the broke side, but I did spend most of my time collecting cards like crazy, and plan to search for a handful of the sellers and purchase some awesome handmade things in the near future.

I didn't write down all the shops (cause I'm a failbot), so apologies if I miss some here (let me know if you recognize any of them and I'll link properly).

Mojo Spa is too cute for words. And a local store!

 The only thing I bought: from Ryan Berkley Illustration. A shark in a suit bottle opener. He's my Erik/Magneto, so now I can open all the bottles!

 Brian Gubicza

 Cussing Cozies

They had free pins if you wore them around the fair.

 Took a break for a delicious veggie slider and apple cider from Mana.

Red Boots Design

 Purple Hippo Stitches

I went to Ren Fair and all I got were these pictures

One day, I'll go to Ren Fair fully decked to the nines in appropriate attire like most of my friends get to. Le sigh.

But we had an awesome time! Look at the proof!