February 06, 2010

Winter Mittens

Evie designed them herself and is doing the blanket stitch on one of them.

Posted by jenna at 03:54 PM | Comments (1)

February 03, 2010

Andrew just showed Evie how he ran 100 gigabit network cable throughout the house and now she's helping him install network jacks. It's so cute.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Posted by jenna at 02:07 PM

December 14, 2009

Gingerbread Shriners

I have been trying to find this recipe on archives of my website all week. It is the best gingerbread cookie recipe I have tried. I'm sticking it here for future reference for myself, and anyone who needs some kitchy baking fun.

Gingerbread Cookies

Note the injured Shriner on the lower left (who was involved in an unfortunate baking accident). Can you find the pink flamingo?

Each recipe makes about three dozen cookies, depending on the size of the cookies.

Gingerbread cookie dough (above)

2 3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening (non-hydrogenated), room temperature
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsulfured (light) molasses
1 large egg

Sift flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat shortening and butter in large bowl into light. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in molasses, then egg. Add dry ingredients. Using spoon, stir until mixture forms dough (dough will be very soft). Divide dough into thirds. Gather each third into ball; flatten into disks. Wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

Lemon sugar cookie dough

2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 large egg

Sift flour, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and lemon peel in large bowl. Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup powdered sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg. Add dry ingredients. Using spoon, stir until mixture forms dough (dough will be soft). Divide dough into thirds. Gather each third into ball; flatten into disks. Wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let soften slightly, if necessary, before rolling out.)

Shaping and baking cookies

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously flour work surface and rolling pin. Place 1 dough disk on work surface (keep remaining 2 dough disks refrigerated). Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness, lifting and turning dough to prevent sticking.

Using a basic gingerbread fella cookie cutter, place the cutter on the dough and press only the lower half of the body (below the neck anyway) firmly. Try not to let the top of the head cut through the dough, but a slight depression is fine. Remove the cutter and use a knife to add a fez to the top of the head. Go over the edges of the head and shoulders to make sure the dough is cut well and cookie can be lifted. Use a spatula to get the cookies off the work surface and onto the baking sheet.

Transfer cookies to lightly greased baking sheets, spacing 1/2 inch apart. Bake until cookies turn brown on edges, about 15 minutes. Let cookies stand on sheets 1 minute. Transfer cookies to racks and cool completely. Store cooled in airtight container at room temperature until ready to decorate.

Royal Icing

3 tablespoons Wilton Meringue Powder
4 cups (about 1 lb.) confectioners' sugar
6 tablespoons warm water
Food coloring paste

Beat first 3 ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 minutes at low speed with a heavy-duty mixer, 10-12 minutes at high speed with a hand-held mixer). Tint small batches with desired food coloring pastes. Makes about 3 cups of icing.

* For stiffer icing, use 1 tablespoon less water.
**When using large countertop mixer or for stiffer icing, use 1 tablespoon less water.

Posted by jenna at 02:21 PM

December 10, 2009

Spend! Spend! Spend!

As a stereotypical SF Bay Area, left wing, progressive, disenfranchised aging hipster/yuppie, the consumerism of the holiday season obviously irritates me (honestly, day after Thanksgiving shopping? I'd rather give myself a lobotomy with a dull spoon). But I still love to buy shit for people. Maybe I'm a hypocrite? Whatevs. My holiday shopping is all done. To try to "do my part" for small business I frequented the local independently owned toy store, our friend's wine business and Ebay. Mostly. but.... I cannot wait to bust out that Easy Bake oven! I have a 100 watt bulb at the ready, and I feel like I'm 8 years old again!

In a week the girls are off of school so we are going to spend vacation mostly at Yosemite (PLEASE LET IT SNOW) and loafing around in an Irish coffee stupor for the New Year.

Speaking of consumerism, Joan Jett Barbie - indeed- rocks!

Posted by jenna at 05:10 PM

December 06, 2009

Holiday Stuffs

I just taught block printing to 125 elementary school children at the annual Holiday Craft Fair. I came home and drank two Crown Royal and Sprites back to back.

Check it out:

Cupcake tree ornaments!

Paint your own Russian Nesting Dolls set! The monster designs are cute, but I am going to paint them to match my tattoos.

My freezing/grumpy little girls and I at Tunnel View, Yosemite, Thanksgiving 2009.

Posted by jenna at 06:01 PM

December 03, 2009

#27 on My List of New Hobbies to Try

Feltidermy

Pink Jackalope from Girlsavage's Etsy Shop

Posted by jenna at 07:44 PM

November 18, 2009

Birthday Girls

Evie and Vivian turned 6 and 4!

Yes. I threw a princess party.
No. I can't believe it either.

I hate to admit it but it was a shitload of fun and I would totally do it again :)

Fiona the Wonder Pug went to her new home a few days ago and we already have yet another. Rescue is inundated with unwanted dogs lately because of hard financial times (and the pug trend is fizzling out, thank god). The new one is named Ollie, he's pretty cute and hasn't whizzed on any furniture yet - which is why I usually refuse to foster boy dogs (sorry, fellas). Got him from the Peninsula Humane Society, where I made sure to browse the selection of Chihuahua mixes before leaving. They are so cute and tragic! It was really hard to not stuff as many as could fit into my purse before leaving! Andrew is so forgiving about all the strays I bring home ("Oh, hey, wow. A new dog. Huh.") but I don't want to overdo it, you know.

Aside from stray dogs I'm volunteering at Evie's kindergarten for two hours a week teaching painting to the kids. I love it. I can't wait until the higher grades when I can do some art history too. She has an awesome class, we love her school! I think I got a little too enthusiastic when I agreed to teach block printing to 125 kids at the holiday craft fair though. Doh.

The thing I am most excited about this holiday season though is spending time at Yosemite, teaching Evie to use an EZ Bake Oven and this present that she specifically asked for:

I finally get to teach her to sew on a Hello Kitty Sewing machine, manufactured by Janome! Awesome!

Posted by jenna at 06:55 PM | Comments (2)

October 30, 2009

Fiona the Foster Pug

Isn't she cute? That's her tennis ball. Good luck taking it away from her, unless you use the words "let's play FETCH!" She will chase it till she collapses. I have never seen a pug fetch before, she's amazing! Just got her spayed yesterday, so she's a little pissed off at me right now, but will be going to her new home in two weeks.

A few months ago I found out that I had a hyperactive lump on my thyroid - which was causing all sorts of mood swings, weight loss then gain, my hair was falling out, and I was (and still am) so tired. So I went through a radiation treatment a few weeks ago to try to kill off the hyperactive lump and am waiting to see if it worked. I couldn't be near the kids for a week because of the radiation! And I sadly gained no superpowers. At least no new ones...

Evie started reading last week! She got really excited about these Hello Kitty early readers we ordered from school and just sat down and started reading them to me! It was amazing! Exactly one month before her 6th Birthday. I'd like to attribute it to a month of Kindergarten, but I think it was those 3 years of Montessori that really did it. So far Kindergarten work has been pretty boring for her. But she loves all the friends she's made and is excited to go every day!

We went to the opera to see Salome last weekend and it was so good! Big orchestral pieces that drown out the singers, and Salome writhing on the floor making out with John the Baptist's bloody severed head at the finale. I have only seen one other Strauss opera and that was Elektra 10 years ago in DC. That one wasn't quite as shocking.

Posted by jenna at 10:45 AM

September 19, 2009

Darn, I have been throwing it all in the recycling bin

What a waste of perfectly good weaponry

Cardboard Tube Fighting League

Posted by jenna at 01:37 PM

September 15, 2009

Books Read, Summer 2009

Looking at the stack on my dresser, I just realized how many books I read this summer. Which is amazing considering how much time I spend wrangling the girls and doing laundry. Oh the laundry. With its thousands upon thousands of tiny little socks that want matching.
I enjoyed:

The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (see June 30 entry below)
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
Life Among The Savages by Shirley Jackson
Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940: How Americans Lived Through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression by David E. Kyvig

So yeah, aside from laundry and tiny sock matching, I did pretty well!
I just started my brother in law Bill Loehfelm's new book BLOODROOT which was just released a few weeks ago by Putnam. Congrats Bill! Again!






Now school is in full swing for the girls. I did fine getting Evie off to her first day of Kindergarten without getting too sentimental or frazzled, until a few hours later at home when I realized that I had my dress on inside out. Guess I was a bit distracted after all.

Posted by jenna at 09:15 PM

September 11, 2009

Found on the Internets

Alternate caption:

"You can has STFU"

Posted by jenna at 06:29 PM

September 05, 2009

Breakfast

Vivian: Daddy is making Mickey Mouse pancakes!
Me: (looking at the attempt in pan) But what's that one shaped like?
Andrew: John Merrick.
Evie: John Merrick? Who's John Merrick? Can I have the John Merrick one? Pleeease?

Posted by jenna at 10:04 AM

July 01, 2009

Oh no!

Of course the day after I blog about my love for "Streets of San Francisco" Karl Malden dies. Was it something I said?

Posted by jenna at 08:07 PM

June 30, 2009

Hello Ladies

I swear I am going to update my website more often. Pinkie swear it. Its really good for me to be in touch with the world, and as someone who is pretty much a jobless recluse by nature (and circumstance) this is the best way to do it. And you don't care if I'm in my undies, right? Right.

We went to St. George Island for a week with Andrew's whole family and had the best time. I was dreading the trip for about three months -- not because of his family, who are completely awesome and damn they know when cocktail hour starts -- but flying to Atlanta 5 hours + driving to Florida 6 hours multiplied by the act of traveling with preschoolers = 2,563 hours equivalent angst. Or so I thought, but it went as smoothly as could be. The girls skipped along the beach collecting periwinkles, I wore a new swimsuit in honor of losing 10 pounds, and we all flopped around in warm Gulf Coast water every day. It put our freakishly icy California beaches to shame. There were dolphin sightings three times a day AND there was a Piggly Wiggly fer shoppin' at. Andrew got a Piggly Wiggly hat. Boy howdy I miss the south. I could have stayed forever.

Our brother-in-law, Mr. Bill Loehfelm of New Orleans, has a new book coming out in September and I am so proud of him. He's so cool. I read a little of it and it looks good and profane and dirty and dark. Can't wait.

I have been reading lots since we got back, its been keeping me on the level while dealing with this bi-polar crap. Finished Sin in the Second City, which was about highfalutin' Victorian hookers in Chicago. Despite the fascinating subject matter it could have been more thorough - it was just too short. Then finally finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and after that a book called Nine Lives about nine people in New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina. I was skeptical since the author isn't from New Orleans but he did a really thorough job and I was impressed at how he really nailed the place. The were events in the book that took place during the brief time I lived in a drunken French Quarter stupor, which I never had a clue about at the time (probably due to the drunken French Quarter stupor?) It made me miss the filthy place and wish I had paid more attention when I lived there. You only get to be young, single and let loose in the Crescent City once (in my case) and I feel like I should have whooped it up less. What is WRONG with that picture??

Now I'm back to Michael Chabon for The Yiddish Policemen's Union. Which, incidentally, is a "genre-pantsing detective novel" according to New York Magazine. Genre-pantsing. I really really love that. I would actually go on to say that it gives the Jew-noir sub-genre a hefty wedgie to boot.

So thats it. Now I'm going to go curl up with our latest rescue pug, Maddy, and my fella and watch "Streets of San Francisco." That show never ceases entertain me because they always pull up to some house in Russian Hill or an office building in the Financial District and there is ample and convenient street parking. Did this magical San Francisco of yore really exist or was it just a TV land fantasy? Either way I am glad there is actual footage in the opening credits of the long ago demolished neon sign of Carol Doda and her blinking boobies at the Condor Club. I read that when it was torn down the construction crew smashed it up because it was "profane" to them. Now... as someone who is A. female and B. has walked by wolf-whistling construction crews at one time or another, I cannot really wrap my mind around such a puritan group of fellas aghast at the sight of a ladies ta-tas. So frankly it sounds fishy.

Posted by jenna at 08:59 PM

May 04, 2009

Fabric for sale

I am listing a bunch of yardage of really cool hard-to-find fabrics at my Etsy shop - all for 7 bucks a yard. Check it out, I need to clear out the closet!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=37547

Posted by jenna at 03:13 PM

April 12, 2009

Spring!

Today was going to be pseudo-polynesian dinner and tiki drinks for "Easter Island Sunday", but we have the flu instead. We look cute though, huh?

Posted by jenna at 01:03 PM | Comments (2)

March 28, 2009

Greetings from Wawona

We are doing SPRING CLEANING up at the mountain cabin this weekend. Had new awesome red carpet installed, Andrew cleaned the koi pond, I framed a picture of Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir, and got rid of a bunch of furniture on craigslist that the previous owner had left at the house. This has been a recurring theme of my last two homes - other people's stuff left behind - like I don't have enough crap of my own! Get your unwanted shit out of my house! Grrrr!

We took time for a picnic in Wawona today by the Merced River and saw a beautiful coyote. The weather was 70+ degrees and the girls played in the mud with their little friend Andres. Great day.

Posted by jenna at 09:27 PM

March 23, 2009

"recent entry"

Creative title, isn't it? It about sums it up! Depressingly, in the past few months I have:

- been in the hospital for two days
- done nonstop work on the house. I'm so tired of dealing with contractors (except Andre, he rules)
- had to send Nestor to a new home because he was snapping and growling at kids
- been diagnosed as bipolar/manic depressive (woo!) The cure is almost worse than the malady. I'm gradually adjusting to new medicine. It makes me scared to drive.
+ made plans to remodel our kitchen in (hopefully) two months
+ bought a new car and a new bike
- slacked off on Tartlette, not motivated to be business-like or sew little dresses. Made myself three dresses though
+ seen several shows at the Fillmore (Katy Perry, Andrew Bird, Devotchka and have tix for the Kills in May)
+ enrolled the girls in Spanish immersion class. Andrew wants to know why there is no Klingon immersion class?
- decided to go back to work. I am giving myself a year to brush up on design software and build my portfolio
+ been consistently doing pilates and lifting freeweights every day (I still can't believe this one)
- hardly gone to the Yosemite house at all, though I bought a vintage wagon wheel chandelier for it
- felt like I have done nothing, despite all this. I cant believe we have only lived in this house for 5 months, it feels like a year already! I still am on the fence as to whether it was a good move or not, I am kinda miserable here :(

How bout a cute picture to cheer things up a bit?

Thats Vivian, Evie and best friend Sarah

Posted by jenna at 08:00 AM

February 15, 2009

Blackhearts

Linzer Hearts with Black Raspberry Jam, it's my Joan Jett inspired dessert. Happy Valentine's Day!

Posted by jenna at 12:21 AM | Comments (0)

January 29, 2009

Inauguration Party and new tattoos

Photos of both are on Flickr!

Posted by jenna at 08:42 PM

January 07, 2009

Facebook

FYI you can find me on Facebook these days - I update over there more often than here...

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=606803473

Posted by jenna at 10:19 AM

January 06, 2009

Holiday Photo blogging

I am so overwhelmed with all the work we are doing on this old house (rotted wood joist repair, stucco removal and repair, various collapsed ceilings, leaking roof, a river running through the basement, etc etc) so Im going to update you with pictures instead. Everyone likes pictures more than reading anyway, right? Right.

Happy New Year from Sentinel Beach, Yosemite NP

Xmas Fundraiser at Filoli in Woodside. This overexposed photo is pretty much the reason I asked "Santa" for a speedlight for my camera for Xmas.

Santa's Fangirls

Evie in her Gingerbread girl dress, inspired by Made with Love by Hannah.
(Can't blame my lack of speedlight for the bad photo, this was via iPhone)

Evie & her Snowperson. Pine straw makes a great smile.

Just barely enough snow in our yard to sled up at the mountains

Doggies weren't so into the snow, as you can see.
Martha Stewart came out with this "Woodland Holiday" line of decorations which was all Bavarian kitsch. I was totally ALL over it. And now it's all over our tree.

After we got back from Yosemite, we scored some new/old antique furniture for the house, which was looking pretty barren.

Lucy Furr Approves

The new stuff kinda coordinates with the sofa...

This is my favorite piece of furniture ever. Its Victorian and I placed a Ouija board under the glass. I have had it since after college.

The new furniture purchases were necessary to cheer me up after finding a huge hole in the ceiling where the wood rotted underneath. Swell.

New years eve, posing with the mini top hat I made and my new speedlight.

I dressed Viv as tiny Marlene Dietrich for New Years Eve

Imperial Angela (she's the English Angela) lookin' fine on NYE!

Colonial Angela (she's the American Angela) looking lovely as well

VERY well behaved little ladies on NYE

Sandra and I at Sentinel Beach over Thanksgiving. BFF!

Posted by jenna at 05:43 PM

November 12, 2008

Moved!

Stars and garters, its been a crazy 2 months!

Kinda awesome:
1. We are all moved into our new house!
2. The new house is huge and in a super cute neighborhood!
3. We got an offer on our old house and are in escrow to close in a week and a half!
4. PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA!!
5. Big drunken inauguration party at my house January 20!
6. Thanksgiving with Mikol, Sandra and Ezra at Yosemite, where our new wood stove is installed. Bring on the cozy!

Kinda sucky:
1. New house is really freaking old and needs some major repairs
2. Can't get motivated to unpack boxes. I am so exhausted from selling, packing, moving, blah blah blah.
3. Hilly neighborhood not so good for riding my 3 speed cruiser while towing 50 pounds of toddler in the trailer. Tried today. FAIL.
4. Had to put down Donnie the rescue pug a few weeks ago, he just wasn't getting any better. It was so sad.
5. Ping fell into the pool after about 30 seconds of being at the new house. That wasn't all tragic though, it was kinda funny. She's a decent swimmer, but totally gave me a WTF?? look when I fished her out. Pool fence gets installed in a week.
6. Girls' birthdays are next week and I have no idea what I am going to do about a party. Panicking a bit on that one.

Posted by jenna at 06:54 PM | Comments (1)

October 03, 2008

Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart

Posted by jenna at 10:08 PM | Comments (1)

Happy House

In the span of the past 7 days we put a bid on a house, it was accepted and now I am going completely NUTS getting our house ready to go on the market - by Tuesday!! ITS CRAZY. We are closing in less than a month on the new place and moving in! In the past 4 days I have painted 4 rooms, planted flowers, temporarily hired a gardener and painters, had new flooring installed, been bossed around by a real estate stager, sold a ton of stuff on craigslist and started packing. With 4 dogs and 2 kids running around. Tomorrow we are having tile refinished. Our house has never looked so good, why didn't I do all this stuff years ago, so we could enjoy it? Duh.

The new house is so cute - its an English Tudor built in the early 1920's and has a pool too! POOL PARTY!

I'm really excited but everything is a big blur. I can't sleep because of all the stuff I still need to get done. Or maybe I just inhaled too many paint fumes today. Ick.

Here are the girls in some new outfits:

Posted by jenna at 02:25 AM

September 08, 2008

Baby needs a new pair of shoes

Go-go boots actually:

I love these, but can't justify spending 60 bucks on something she will outgrow by January.

Posted by jenna at 09:24 AM | Comments (1)

August 12, 2008

What I have taught my children about religion. And driving.

Recently I caught Vivian (2) sitting in her toy car in the yard, pounding on the horn and chanting "Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ!"

Way to go, self. Ugh.

Posted by jenna at 11:24 AM | Comments (2)

August 09, 2008

The verdict is....

My tonsils will most likely have to come out. Its not a very good sell when the surgeon tells you "after the procedure, you'll want to die for about two weeks". Thanks dude. Way to get me psyched for it. I asked if I got to stay overnight in the hospital (angling for a morphine drip...) and he laughed at me. Apparently it is only an outpatient procedure now and they send you packing right away. All those Brady Bunch episodes always made it look like a week long stay in the hospital where people brought you endless ice cream and comic books. Which would be great because frankly I could use the vacation.

Posted by jenna at 07:50 PM | Comments (1)

August 03, 2008

Jr Aquabat Cadet Evie

Posted by jenna at 01:47 PM

July 31, 2008

Greetings from Yosemite

Our house was not in the line of fire, this time (three weeks ago, it got much closer!) so thank you to the friends who emailed with concern. Our place is just fine, with the exception of two deceased mice in the yard which the pugs had discovered and chewed on. I was so mortified. Lucy is sulking tonight because she knows how disappointed I am.

The town of Mariposa, while in peril of being burnt to the ground, does have one thing currently going for it: legions upon legions of SUPER SEXY FIREMEN! If you are single and female, it might be a good time to visit Yosemite after all.

The air is pretty clear south of 140 and the Telegraph fire is about halfway contained. There is an emergency Animal shelter at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds where they have all the dogs, cats, horses and goats who are now homeless, and some are completely abandoned. So if you are in the position to make a donation, visit the Mariposa County SPCA website here:
http://www.mariposaspca.org/

Posted by jenna at 09:34 PM

July 29, 2008

is this thing on?

I had some serious technical difficulties on the site here, I just pulled the plug for a bit since I didn't have time to mess with things!

We have been having a fun summer, we had about 25 people camping at the Yosemite house for our Independence Day party! But now I have strep throat for the third time in 6 weeks. Not so fun.

Posted by jenna at 03:19 PM

May 19, 2008

A Cake for You Rudy

If I ever find myself in a situation where I need to bake a Ska themed cake, this is what I will use:

Checkerboard cake pan, Sur la Table

Posted by jenna at 08:28 PM

May 16, 2008

Melting in Mid-May

It has been 90+ degrees here for the past two days and since we are having the house sanded and painted I can't open the windows because of toxic lead dust! It was so damn hot, the dogs were all flopped down on the kitchen tiles. Today I am packing up my girlgang and hitting the beach.

Vivian is 2.5 and speaking properly now and it makes me sad - she no longer says "byper" for diaper, "hims" for his... I miss her cute baby talk! Fortunately she still has trouble with "y"s so she will ask me "What are loo doing?" and "I want to wear a lellow dwess" so that makes me happy.

Posted by jenna at 09:54 AM | Comments (1)

May 08, 2008

Backwoods Shopaholic

A lot of what I do these days is shop for cabin kitsch, so I should at least blog about it some more. Or I could explain in painfully precise detail how I mowed the lawn and/or shopped at Whole Foods, washed dogs and/or children, did laundry and/or made dinner and watched Battlestar Galactica and/or Lost. But any schmuck can write about that. So here's the parade of crap I bought this week:

Two of these vintage reproduction fiberglass shades (minus the squiggle pattern) for some vintage wooden lamps I picked up at the Alameda Flea Market. Courtesy of Moon Shine Lamp & Shade.

A cuckcoo clock!

This weekend we might pick up this antique dining room set in Fresno. There is a hutch and matching table and chairs set. It doesnt quite scream out Spaghetti Western, but has a kind of Bavarian/Tyrolean vibe to it that I dig. Maybe Spaghetti Western style is going to morph into Bavarian Hillbilly chic?

Better Homes and Gardens Home Furnishings Ideas from 1963

Various Anthropologie finery (this has nothing to do with decorating the house, I'm just plain weak willed)

These Frye shoes (but in black patent). Again with the weak will.

Books about cakes, pastry making and vegetarian cooking, among which I think the Veganomicon has the best title ever. I am not going vegan, I just like the recipes (after I add several obnoxious cups of cheese and/or butter to them)

That's about the extent of my journalistic skills these days. I have a lot of insight about the world and its inhabitants, but yet can't communicate via kdeyborad keyboard anything that makes any sense (case in point right there, I am suddenly dyslexic, WTF??) I have had a website for over ten years now (!) but my blogging days are numbered.... my ironic wit has been sucked out of me by preschoolers and neurotic little dogs [insert grandiose exaggerated SIGH here]. So "Look at the shiny things I bought!" will have to suffice for now.

Posted by jenna at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)

May 02, 2008

Maker Faire tomorrow

I will be at Maker Faire tomorrow but not with Tartlette for a change - I was so burnt out on sewing for business I didn't even apply (and with all the new house stuff I missed the deadline anyway). I'm so glad I am not selling this year because I can finally go look at all the STUFF! I have always been stuck at my tent or table, and missed out on all the demos and rockets and robots.

http://www.makerfaire.com/

Posted by jenna at 08:58 PM

April 11, 2008

Congratulations Bill!

My brother in law in New Orleans won the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and his book is going to be published in July!!!1!!!

I am so excited for him and AC. You may remember we went to New Orleans for their wedding last spring.

Congrats Bill & AC! Again!

Posted by jenna at 10:45 AM | Comments (1)

April 03, 2008

Springtime pictures!

Posted by jenna at 05:27 PM

April 02, 2008

Because I don't like to make promises I don't keep...

Yep, we went and got the little pug mix in the Madera shelter (which is STUFFED with lab mix puppies pulled out of a dumpster - go adopt one!) We haven't named him yet, I think he looks like an Oliver but Andrew keeps calling him Manny. His shelter name is Nestor (as in the Greek King of Pylos) but I'm still on the fence about that one too. Picking him up was part of a great week spent in the mountains at the house. We saw turkeys, bunnies, deer and great sunsets.

There are huge granite boulders and outcroppings all over the property and all sorts of critters. We learned how to maintain the koi pond and wandered around. The nature is a little overwhelming, so I spent some time indoors cleaning the place and picking out paint colors. I'm leaning towards "Spaghetti Western" as a decorating theme - you know, tacky steakhouse with chianti bottles everywhere and red checkered tablecloths. It might be just weird enough to work. Andrew really wants a wagon wheel chandelier so I am prowling on eBay and going to the Alameda Flea Market this weekend. So far I have picked up the following:

A bunch of old Field & Stream outdoor magazines from the fifties. This is my favorite. There has to be a whole subgenre of pinup/pulp art that featured pretty girls with guns! I need to start collecting more examples of it!

A completely tacky 1950's ceramic planter/statue/TV top lamp. Yes, LAMP. Sweet.

Cute little deer bookends from Japan for the girls' room. They unfortunately arrived like this:

But I managed to superglue them (and my fingers) together. Doh.

This one is on its way. I'm DEER CRAZY!

Posted by jenna at 12:56 PM

March 19, 2008

halp me plz!

I have got to put some kind of Net Nanny style porn filter on my computer to block Petfinder. I keep finding shelter doggies on there that are SO CUTE and pathetic and totally need me to take them home and spoil them and dress them up. I do it every night. Its TORTURE. Here's the latest. He's a dead ringer for my beloved Penny the chug who died last year:

He's so tiny! I daresay snack size at most. He wouldn't take up much room, right? So I should go get him this weekend, yes? I thought so. I knew you'd see it my way. Thanks friends.

Posted by jenna at 09:45 PM | Comments (1)

March 14, 2008

Becky the Pug

Here's our latest foster pug, Becky...

Posted by jenna at 05:41 PM | Comments (0)

March 03, 2008

Knit Batgirl Gloves

If you have known me a while, you'll probably remember when I used to dress up in various homemade Batgirl costumes and run around Manhattan...

So needless to say I am in love with these super cool knitted Batgirl gloves from Bleu Arts!

Get the pattern here

Posted by jenna at 10:20 AM | Comments (1)

February 05, 2008

SuperFat Tuesday

Today the whole family took a walk to vote for that nice young congressman from Illinois (no, not Abe Lincoln, the new guy) and then went home to bake a King Cake for Mardi Gras. Evie wanted it heart shaped so it looks kinda funny, and I couldn't find my plastic baby jesuses so we hid a strawberry candy in it instead.

Posted by jenna at 11:33 PM | Comments (2)

January 25, 2008

Noir City 6

Noir City, the annual San Francisco Film Noir Festival, starts tonight at the Castro Theatre.
http://www.noircity.com.

My hair is freshly blonded and I have a new hat just for the occasion!

The gal who made it has an Etsy shop and makes amazing hats - check her out

Posted by jenna at 11:30 AM | Comments (1)

January 23, 2008

Überlist

I have a cold so instead of doing laundry, or sewing, or cleaning, I am sitting around knitting, watching William Powell and Myrna Loy movies and making my Überlist (which I was inspired to do by Nikol Lohr of Disgruntled Housewife). It is a list of new year's resolutions, which I previously never made because I was the walking image of perfection (hah! snort) but having kids had made me realize that I have a lot of work to do to be a better person. Mostly involving being more patient and empathetic, but there are a few lame household projects that need completing too. So I might as well make a list as I can't remember jackcrap these days.

Posted by jenna at 12:50 PM | Comments (1)

January 15, 2008

Happy New Year from the brink

Odds are you have been spammed by this photo if I know you in real life, but if not, that's our New Years greeting from Yosemite :)

Xmas morning, after opening gifts and getting dressed

The day after Christmas we drove up to Yosemite where we rented a cabin. And IT SNOWED!

So we went on a sleigh ride in the forest

and made snow angels

and did a little sledding

during which the pugs were miserable. We had Ping, Lucy and this rescue pug, Kiwi, with us on the trip.

Lucy (who has extra thin fur) got a stylish (and reversible) puffer vest for Xmas in preparation for the trip. She made this cute rustling sound wherever she went.

And I have been knitting the shit out of the Snowflake Cardigan (see last post). It wont have snowflakes on it though, it will have pirate skulls. Arrrr!

Posted by jenna at 10:21 AM

December 23, 2007

Merry Kitschmas!

That would be an angel shaped gingerbread cake cooked in a TV dinner tray. Recycled, tasty AND tasteful!
Courtesy of "McCall's Christmas Make-It Ideas", 1974.

Holiday cookie making mania is still going strong. Last year I spent December experimenting with new ways to combine peppermint and chocolate, this year is strictly Gingerbread. While I bake, Evie and Sprout have been watching "White Christmas" over and over (We are big on musicals and showtunes around here). The "Sisters" song and dance routine gets replayed a lot - Evie has decided that she is the Rosemary Clooney sister because she is older and has darker hair, and that Vera Ellen is the Sprout because she is younger and has blonde curly hair.

After Xmas, we go to Yosemite where we have a cozy little cabin in the redwoods rented! Please think frosty white snowy thoughts for us :) I will be bringing this knitting project along with me:

Posted by jenna at 12:13 PM | Comments (1)

December 11, 2007

Shows; some crafty, some childish

Bazaar Bizarre is this weekend in Golden Gate Park - I think I'm helping out somehow, but haven't heard anything as of yet. $1 gets you in, and you can get your holiday gifts handmade by a crafty local!

We saw the Aquabats last week for their annual Holiday visit up to the no-so-frozen North of San Francisco. I forgot my ID so I had to have both hands stamped with "I AM A MINOR! DON'T SERVE ME BOOZE!!!!" symbols. The novelty of being a 36 year old with two kids and being told I don't look old enough to drink (that's what she said, I don't care how dark it was in Slim's, I'm taking all the compliments I can get!) wore off after my third Shirley Temple. DJ Lance Rock from Evie's favorite "Yo Gabba Gabba!" kid's show was the opening act and the cyclops and the robot from the show were dancing onstage with him (I think they are Aquabats in disguise). So there I was at a show that my 4 year old would have went nuts for, drinking her beloved Shirley Temples.

So much for an adult night out.

Posted by jenna at 11:07 PM | Comments (1)

December 03, 2007

SHINY THINGS

Behold our glittery tacky shiny silver tinsel tree! It looks (and smells) like a vintage 60's tree, but its supposedly new. We have a spinning color wheel light behind it and everything. And a marabou feathered sparkly flamingo on top.

The little ladies are INSANE with holiday spirit. We got a few bags of toys for Toys for Tots today and dropped them off at the fire station (and talked with totally hot firemen! Bonus! :) and I told Evie that the firemen will give them to Santa to bring to kids who don't have a lot of toys. I think it made her happy, but mostly because it involved Santa. Kid is bonkers for Santa. She keeps asking it is is Christmas yet, if Santa will remember her, if Santa will bring things for the Sprout too, and telling me that when she sits in Santa's lap this year she wants to snuggle into his beard and take a nap.

Despite all this cuteness, I decided that whenever I get the urge to have more kids I'm just going to buy a new Blythe doll.

. . .

Meet Candy Carnival and Save the Animals. Candy is getting her hair done.

Whoops. I just gave Evie and Viv the warning that they have to go up to bed in 10 minutes by yelling "LAST CALL." Great.

Posted by jenna at 07:02 PM | Comments (1)

November 26, 2007

Flickr-ing

Since Halloween we went to Atlanta, North Carolina, exhibited Tartlette wares at Pipsqueak a Go-Go, threw a birthday party for the girls (complete with farm animal petting zoo), had Thanksgiving and got sick. I'm still working on the sick part. I'm just posting some of the past month's pics, they say more than I can.

Tartlette Christmas Dress

Visit to Atlanta

North Carolina Fall walk

View from the in-laws living room

Hot cocoa and a train ride

"tiss!"

Birthday Sisters, born 2 years and one day apart

Goat Hugger's Zen

Mini farm

Posted by jenna at 11:16 AM | Comments (2)

October 22, 2007

Zoe

Zoe the pug is our new house guest, she is available for adoption!

And I made dirty cupcakes for a Halloween party this weekend. Kids love dirt.

Evie heard us quoting Cool Hand Luke the other day, so tonight she tells us "I can eat fifty bananas!"

Posted by jenna at 08:13 PM