Tuesday, August 28, 2007
whaaaa???
I DID change things up around here! With late summer/early fall, I thought some nice warm colors would do the trick. Plus I needed something to go with my new header? In any case, hope ya likes. Meanwhile I should be working on the back of my mom's bookcover right now instead of putzing around on blogger, am I right? Yiko's!!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Nothing all that new to update, but I'm in a MUCH better mood and excited about life because I HEART THE GRADIENT MESH TOOL!!! One of the artists here at work sent us a bunch of graphic design related links, one of which contained a link to various gradient mesh MASTERS! Oh man these people are crazy. Here's an example:
um, what? This is an ILLUSTRATION people. Not a photo...not even photoshop'ed. I know it's hard to understand the significance of this without actually working in Adobe Illustrator, but trust me, it's intense. For more of Yukio Miyamoto's work, please visit his site!
Anyway, I was so inspired (in addition to the fact that I've always wanted to be SO much better at shading in Illustrator), that I found a tutorial on how to do a pepper. The artist provides you with the pepper photo that you use as a base for the colors, as well as the step by step process to create the realistic looking pepper just in Illustrator. Well, HERE is my very first attempt at the gradient mesh tool!
SO! I mean it's no Yukio by any means, but I was pretty proud! Yay pepper!!!
And speaking of peppers, the other night I made my last recipe of the month, Orange Kung Pao Chicken! I followed Z's recipe and then added orange juice and zest to the sauce. SO GRAND! I loved it! Plus I satisfied my atypical produce item by adding some sugah snap peas. Yum!
Sooooooo this weekend will consist of more maid of honor duties, more Miller Lite, and possibly Coldstone Creamery???? ahhhh I can't resist!!!!!!!
um, what? This is an ILLUSTRATION people. Not a photo...not even photoshop'ed. I know it's hard to understand the significance of this without actually working in Adobe Illustrator, but trust me, it's intense. For more of Yukio Miyamoto's work, please visit his site!
Anyway, I was so inspired (in addition to the fact that I've always wanted to be SO much better at shading in Illustrator), that I found a tutorial on how to do a pepper. The artist provides you with the pepper photo that you use as a base for the colors, as well as the step by step process to create the realistic looking pepper just in Illustrator. Well, HERE is my very first attempt at the gradient mesh tool!
SO! I mean it's no Yukio by any means, but I was pretty proud! Yay pepper!!!
And speaking of peppers, the other night I made my last recipe of the month, Orange Kung Pao Chicken! I followed Z's recipe and then added orange juice and zest to the sauce. SO GRAND! I loved it! Plus I satisfied my atypical produce item by adding some sugah snap peas. Yum!
Sooooooo this weekend will consist of more maid of honor duties, more Miller Lite, and possibly Coldstone Creamery???? ahhhh I can't resist!!!!!!!
Friday, August 17, 2007
karma?
Alright so #100 on The List totally exploded into my life. Last week we had a raffle for the old Macs and PCs here at the office. I put my name in for a Mac OOOOOOF COURSE...and in my mind I begged and pleaded that I would be so lucky to be one of the few chosen. That afternoon, I heard a rumbling amongst my fellow coworkers and my name was mentioned. Sure enough, I checked my email and there was my name under "Macs": one of six! I think my heart jumped out of my throat and slapped me across the face by the time I realized that I had actually won?? In any case, it isn't a laptop, but it's a start! It cuts out half of what I would've spent on the whole thing!! Now I just need a monitor (flatscreen: ~$200), some memory, and the Creative Suite. Turns out Creative Suite 3 just came out, so would that make CS2 cheaper?? Not yet really :\ It's still ~$1200. But maybe I'll luck out somehow. And speaking of luck...for the most part, I chalk this up to luck...but isn't it strange considering my last post here? About all the volunteering and good deeds?? I'm not saying every good deed should go rewarded, but it is quite a coincidence that this happened the same week! In any case, I'm stoked. Now I won't have to come into work on the weekends or stay late any more to do freelance/design projects for my peeps!
Speaking of, I finished my mom's book this weekend!!! I gotta add it to my book list (#95). So so so fabulous and I can't wait to REread it after it's published on paperback. And I'm totally buying copies for a ton of my friends! Currently I'm designing the cover...I really like it so far, so hopefully my moms will too ;)
Can I just tell you how hard it is to do the 26Things photo project? Not only is it so sporadic (they only have one 'hunt' every three months or so), but you only have a month to do it. Now that seems like a lot of time, but when you're trying to be creative with 26 objects, places, and concepts, man almighty! In any case, I think I'm going to have to accept the fact that 26Things will either have to wait until next year (if it still exists), or get replaced. Sigh.
#45 - One more recipe to add to the repertoire! Creamy chicken and rice soup! It was my first home made (ok semi home made) soup ever and I'm really proud with how it turned out!! Especially today when it had a chance to sit overnight. I sautéed garlic/onions/mushrooms/carrots and added them to 4 cups hot broth and a few cups of shredded chicken [from those rotisseries you get in the deli]. I also added a pkg of Rice A Roni wild rice (which I had to simmer by itself for 15 minutes because it wasn't the quick cooking kind). For the roux, I took a suggestion from a recipe online and added the little 'flavor packet' from the Rice A Roni to the 2 TBs of butter and whisked that around...THEN added the 1/4 c flour, and then a cup of half/half. It's a little tricky because there are a lot of clumps, but you just keep stirring at it...when it's all combined, I added that to the broth and stirred it all up...simmered for another 10-15 minutes. Voila as they say! Later this week, I'll use more of the rotisserie chicken to make some Kung Pao chicken a la Z (with some orange zest added...we'll see how that turns out?)
#68 has been outrageous to figure out. So I go out to eat Sunday night at this diner...I have almost a whole cheeseburger (had to have been almost a half lb), half of my BATTERED fries, almost all of a crock of creamy soup loaded with fat I'm sure, and a small cup of coleslaw...ALSO fatty I don't doubt. How can't I NOT count that as a guilty pleasure meal??! Plus the fact that I haven't done pilates in over two weeks? Done! Consider it counted!!
Alright, well to conclude, I'm freaking snarky lately. I'm not even going to get into it, but it's like certain people in my life are redonkulous right now. People say things and the complete immaturity of it will seriously make me want to throw up. I feel like I'm fifty and surrounded by a bunch of fucking teenagers. And yet I'm 27. GROW UP PEOPLE. Ugh...so annoying. Anyway, hopefully the feeling will pass. Haha! I like this post...it's like one second I'm volunteering for good causes and Martha Stewart making a soup, and then the next second I'm psychotic and wanting to throw bottles of diseases at people? Ahhhhh me.
Speaking of, I finished my mom's book this weekend!!! I gotta add it to my book list (#95). So so so fabulous and I can't wait to REread it after it's published on paperback. And I'm totally buying copies for a ton of my friends! Currently I'm designing the cover...I really like it so far, so hopefully my moms will too ;)
Can I just tell you how hard it is to do the 26Things photo project? Not only is it so sporadic (they only have one 'hunt' every three months or so), but you only have a month to do it. Now that seems like a lot of time, but when you're trying to be creative with 26 objects, places, and concepts, man almighty! In any case, I think I'm going to have to accept the fact that 26Things will either have to wait until next year (if it still exists), or get replaced. Sigh.
#45 - One more recipe to add to the repertoire! Creamy chicken and rice soup! It was my first home made (ok semi home made) soup ever and I'm really proud with how it turned out!! Especially today when it had a chance to sit overnight. I sautéed garlic/onions/mushrooms/carrots and added them to 4 cups hot broth and a few cups of shredded chicken [from those rotisseries you get in the deli]. I also added a pkg of Rice A Roni wild rice (which I had to simmer by itself for 15 minutes because it wasn't the quick cooking kind). For the roux, I took a suggestion from a recipe online and added the little 'flavor packet' from the Rice A Roni to the 2 TBs of butter and whisked that around...THEN added the 1/4 c flour, and then a cup of half/half. It's a little tricky because there are a lot of clumps, but you just keep stirring at it...when it's all combined, I added that to the broth and stirred it all up...simmered for another 10-15 minutes. Voila as they say! Later this week, I'll use more of the rotisserie chicken to make some Kung Pao chicken a la Z (with some orange zest added...we'll see how that turns out?)
#68 has been outrageous to figure out. So I go out to eat Sunday night at this diner...I have almost a whole cheeseburger (had to have been almost a half lb), half of my BATTERED fries, almost all of a crock of creamy soup loaded with fat I'm sure, and a small cup of coleslaw...ALSO fatty I don't doubt. How can't I NOT count that as a guilty pleasure meal??! Plus the fact that I haven't done pilates in over two weeks? Done! Consider it counted!!
Alright, well to conclude, I'm freaking snarky lately. I'm not even going to get into it, but it's like certain people in my life are redonkulous right now. People say things and the complete immaturity of it will seriously make me want to throw up. I feel like I'm fifty and surrounded by a bunch of fucking teenagers. And yet I'm 27. GROW UP PEOPLE. Ugh...so annoying. Anyway, hopefully the feeling will pass. Haha! I like this post...it's like one second I'm volunteering for good causes and Martha Stewart making a soup, and then the next second I'm psychotic and wanting to throw bottles of diseases at people? Ahhhhh me.
Monday, August 13, 2007
volunteer this
It's been volunteering central in these parts. Today I actually finished my 'pledge' of volunteering at Open Door Cafe (#78) four times...and I must have 'earned my stripes' because I actually got to serve food! wow!! ;) Actually, so much calmer back there...and you get a chance to actually stop and smile and say hello to people as opposed to running around with your head cut off making sure everyone gets something to drink in a non-orderly fashion. And today was extra crazy. People really want their damn milk. Ok, so then this weekend I had my first "Cup Duty" as a Eucharistic Minister!!! Oh man I was CRAZY nervous. Well, actually at first I wasn't. I had all this time knowing that the day was coming because I got my schedule like three weeks ago, and I was 'chosen' as a E.M. about two months ago. So I was plenty prepared for the event. Only maybe five minutes before the Agnus Dei, my stomach went all flippyflop! I just seriously thought I was going to either drop the cup (as it was all kindsa condensating), or say "Body of Christ" instead of "Blood"???? Haha! Too funny! But then I got up there and it was just amazing. It's always really nice to be able to do something very 'community-centric' I guess. Or at least that's what I'm learning. Lately the volunteering has been less about the 'feel good' quality and more connecting to the community...if that makes sense? Anyway, now this Wednesday, I'm giving blood again to take care of the summer 'once a season' donation. Yahoo! In any case, I gotta think about anything I have going on in the burbs to make the trip 'worth while'. Ok I'm seriously not trying to put everything in quotes, but it's totally working out that way. I'm Air Quotes Queen I'm sorry!!!!
Other updates:
#45 - I made two recipes last week. 1. My sister's FAMOUS eggplant dish...its temporary moniker is "Naked Eggplant a la Z" because it doesn't contain meat or noodles, so carb free and very healthy. Um except for the part where the eggplant slices are fried and it contains an entire package of shredded cheese??? oh well. It's the best Italian dish I have ever consumed though. Even better than any restaurant! I'm serious! 2. was a Rachael Ray recipe: Honey Lime Glazed Salmon with Warm Black Bean and Corn Salad. Pretty good although I'm sort of getting tired of Rachael Ray recipes. I gotta dress then up a little more. Anyway, that took care of #46 as well.
#50 - I don't think I ever came up with an atypical produce item this month! Well I choose sugar snap peas. Next week (or maybe later this week), I'll come up with some kind of Asian dish. Perhaps Mandsi's famous Kung Pao chicken recipe!
#51 - The Miller Lite is getting old. Poor Miller Lite. He was always my favorite go-to cheap and light beer. Now I just cannot wait for August to end so I can have a Jack and Coke or glass of wine. And it's only the 13th :( Oh well. At least I'm drinking a LOT less. It's crazy to think about the days where I would go to my annual gyno appointment and have to remember how many drinks I consumed every week...and I'd "round down" to five or something when it was obviously more like ten?? And even that isn't a lot...well not compared to SOME people around here. Anyway, this past week I bought a six pack and drank four of them. I have one left...maybe for tonight. The other one I used forrrrrrrr........
#75 - Beer Bread! I made some beer bread and DELICIOUS garlic dip for work on Friday. No real reason although it was a silent thank you to everyone for keeping the fridge semi clean the past couple weeks.
#54 - I got my hair cut last week as well. Not my ultimate fave cut off all time, but it's 'growing' ??? on me. I just can't get it to flip right with my hairdryer. Annoying.
#87 - I haven't really mentioned the 'new band a month' thing lately. Well I'm sort of taking a liberty with that task because I can't buy music right now. I'm seriously trying to stick to my New Sparkly Budget. So I basically find a band or artist I like and then listen to the clips on itunes or myspace. I know...sorta cheating, but I'm making mental notes so when I DO spend some money, I will check into them a little further. Artist for last month was Mika and this month is Junior Boys. Both featured on the best reality television series to hit the tube: So You Think You Can Dance. And speaking of, THAT is what I shall do in burbs on Wednesday! Go to my parents to watch the second to last episode of the season. Boooooooo :'{
Ok! Well before I bore you to death any more than I already have, I will leave you with this:
you can never have enough Hugh Laurie in your life, I'm tellin' ya. AND I think he'd be proud that, after mentioning it, I totally toned down the quoting. Whew!
Other updates:
#45 - I made two recipes last week. 1. My sister's FAMOUS eggplant dish...its temporary moniker is "Naked Eggplant a la Z" because it doesn't contain meat or noodles, so carb free and very healthy. Um except for the part where the eggplant slices are fried and it contains an entire package of shredded cheese??? oh well. It's the best Italian dish I have ever consumed though. Even better than any restaurant! I'm serious! 2. was a Rachael Ray recipe: Honey Lime Glazed Salmon with Warm Black Bean and Corn Salad. Pretty good although I'm sort of getting tired of Rachael Ray recipes. I gotta dress then up a little more. Anyway, that took care of #46 as well.
#50 - I don't think I ever came up with an atypical produce item this month! Well I choose sugar snap peas. Next week (or maybe later this week), I'll come up with some kind of Asian dish. Perhaps Mandsi's famous Kung Pao chicken recipe!
#51 - The Miller Lite is getting old. Poor Miller Lite. He was always my favorite go-to cheap and light beer. Now I just cannot wait for August to end so I can have a Jack and Coke or glass of wine. And it's only the 13th :( Oh well. At least I'm drinking a LOT less. It's crazy to think about the days where I would go to my annual gyno appointment and have to remember how many drinks I consumed every week...and I'd "round down" to five or something when it was obviously more like ten?? And even that isn't a lot...well not compared to SOME people around here. Anyway, this past week I bought a six pack and drank four of them. I have one left...maybe for tonight. The other one I used forrrrrrrr........
#75 - Beer Bread! I made some beer bread and DELICIOUS garlic dip for work on Friday. No real reason although it was a silent thank you to everyone for keeping the fridge semi clean the past couple weeks.
#54 - I got my hair cut last week as well. Not my ultimate fave cut off all time, but it's 'growing' ??? on me. I just can't get it to flip right with my hairdryer. Annoying.
#87 - I haven't really mentioned the 'new band a month' thing lately. Well I'm sort of taking a liberty with that task because I can't buy music right now. I'm seriously trying to stick to my New Sparkly Budget. So I basically find a band or artist I like and then listen to the clips on itunes or myspace. I know...sorta cheating, but I'm making mental notes so when I DO spend some money, I will check into them a little further. Artist for last month was Mika and this month is Junior Boys. Both featured on the best reality television series to hit the tube: So You Think You Can Dance. And speaking of, THAT is what I shall do in burbs on Wednesday! Go to my parents to watch the second to last episode of the season. Boooooooo :'{
Ok! Well before I bore you to death any more than I already have, I will leave you with this:
you can never have enough Hugh Laurie in your life, I'm tellin' ya. AND I think he'd be proud that, after mentioning it, I totally toned down the quoting. Whew!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
August 1
Nothing too crazy here, but a few things: I was *blessed with an unexpected $400 check from the state of Wisconsin the other day...turns out it's my tax return and I had completely forgotten about it! I know roll your eyes ;) In any case, I put it DI-rectly into my savings...no spendy spendy for Katesi! After paying my car bill and rent, I have roughly $180 left from my paycheck today. Meh right? No, I'm still going as planned with my budget for the month...the car bill will just be that extra sidebar. August is going to be an expensive month and I'm prepared :) But thus begins my first month of trying to stick to my budget (minus these extra expenses that are atypical).
In other news, I'm tossing an idea around about changing the "take a week vacay from this list once a season" (#68) TO "once a month splurge on something food related" haha! Because I don't exactly know HOW to take a vacay from the list...it's always on my mind! And b. I seriously want to be able to treat myself BIG time just once a month and not worry about it. This also means I have to tone down the times when I do go "a little crazy" and shove those cravings into one day. Ok this is hard to explain. I mean I'm sure I'll "go out to eat" more than once a month, but I'll try to dial it down when I go, except that one time. THEN I can get ANYTHING on a menu: like the fattiest thing. And not worry about starving myself all day or exercise way more in order to get rid of the calories. What inspired me to do this was craving the cake batter ice cream at Coldstone which is sooooooo bad for you. And I don't just want to get that tiny "like it" size either. Or sometimes I just want to pig out on the Big Mac extra value meal at McDonald's...big fries, non diet soda, the works! Or I want to eat 5-6 pieces of pizza AND have Doritos instead of just three pieces sans Doritos ;) Ok that last one would make my stummy s'plode, but you get the gist. So yeah, I like it! Oh and if I'm on vacation? This sort of goes out of effect. Because when you're on vacation, you're just going to eat like crap the whole time...so that time is exempt. THUS when I'm on my mini vacation camping this weekend at Point Beach, and want a fatty ice cream cone, it doesn't count ;)
Rock on! Let the feasting begin!!!
In other news, I'm tossing an idea around about changing the "take a week vacay from this list once a season" (#68) TO "once a month splurge on something food related" haha! Because I don't exactly know HOW to take a vacay from the list...it's always on my mind! And b. I seriously want to be able to treat myself BIG time just once a month and not worry about it. This also means I have to tone down the times when I do go "a little crazy" and shove those cravings into one day. Ok this is hard to explain. I mean I'm sure I'll "go out to eat" more than once a month, but I'll try to dial it down when I go, except that one time. THEN I can get ANYTHING on a menu: like the fattiest thing. And not worry about starving myself all day or exercise way more in order to get rid of the calories. What inspired me to do this was craving the cake batter ice cream at Coldstone which is sooooooo bad for you. And I don't just want to get that tiny "like it" size either. Or sometimes I just want to pig out on the Big Mac extra value meal at McDonald's...big fries, non diet soda, the works! Or I want to eat 5-6 pieces of pizza AND have Doritos instead of just three pieces sans Doritos ;) Ok that last one would make my stummy s'plode, but you get the gist. So yeah, I like it! Oh and if I'm on vacation? This sort of goes out of effect. Because when you're on vacation, you're just going to eat like crap the whole time...so that time is exempt. THUS when I'm on my mini vacation camping this weekend at Point Beach, and want a fatty ice cream cone, it doesn't count ;)
Rock on! Let the feasting begin!!!
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