Projects Round Up

The most useful thing I learned in high school was how to use a sewing machine. 

 With her permission, I took my mom's dress and chopped it and seamed the edges. Easy peezy. The bottom half would be perfect as a scarf, although I so rarely wear scarves.

 My mom dug up old sheets she didn't want anymore and let me chop them up to make matching aprons. And then commissioned me to make 2 pillow cases with the rest of the fabric.

Then I found my pile of clothes I hadn't worn in forever. These used to be polo shirts I wore in high school (?). I chopped off the collars and sewed new seams at the neck. Wear them backwards or forwards. Easy peezy, lemon squeezy.

DIY blanket: the t-shirt project

Upon realization that I had a massive pile of t-shirts that there are not enough days in a year for me to get adequate adornment of, I proceeded to stitch them all together and use it as a couch throw. I've got so many volunteer t-shirts, event t-shirts, vacation t-shirts. Admittedly, they were all precious to me for a day and significant in my memories, but I am really unlikely to wear them more than once - maybe twice. Super fun project. Actually, I've got more t-shirts. so I think I'll do something else with those. 

found bunnies

We found baby bunnies at the park. They're below the bottom step of this stairway up to the slide. It's the most tragic location because I can easily see some kid climbing down and stepping right on these guys. They're so cute and tiny. Their eyes aren't even open yet. I called the non-emergency police line and he basically told me to Google it. First he said not to touch them and leave them alone, but then he said Google it.

baking on the top floor

Midnight banana bread with giant kisses. I used coconut spread in place of butter. I was really pleased with the results. I thought it would be a disaster, almost a fiasco. Roommate gobbled it up. Thank you, roommate.

avoid the line

Shack Shake is known for other things besides their monstrously long lines. Although some may be intimidated, any seasoned Shaker would know that there are 2 lines. One is for food, and the other one - the empty one - is for shakes and frozen stuff. I tried a concrete  for the first time. Mexican chocolate brownie fudge with chocolate covered pretzels. No wait, no fuss. I wouldn't recommend ice cream for lunch, but we're all adults here.

things in my garden

If I had a garden, I would want it to be lush with plants and wildlife. I would want chickens to be running around and laying eggs. I would also want these bright neon succulents occupying my patio.  I remember them last year, and they were snapped up before I had a chance to go back. Here they are again. They are from Half Moon Bay, in Northern California. I can't quite justify purchasing them here to bring to DC, Boston, Chicago and finally to Los Angeles. I'm sure the journey would be stressful for them. Succulents are hardy, but it's cruel to expect that many miles out of them.

public spaces, hidden places

Not enough people walk in LA. There are so many secret treasures when you take a closer look. I think downtown LA could be a really great place for people to fill the streets. There is just so much sidewalk surface area, street amenities, mixed uses. They really make it too easy for drivers around here. It's such a shame because they are missing out.

themed party

If I were to have a rock climbing themed party, I would make figure 8 garlic knots, double figure 8 if I am feeling ambitious. I would have everyone drinking out of klean kanteens. There would be rock candy - the chocolate ones, the crystal sugar ones, and pop rocks. We would be grilling, of course. The tastiness of the food you get to eat would depend on how difficult the climb is to get to it. The quantity and quality of beverages would also be dependent on the difficulty of the climb. The floor would be lava. You would need to traverse or hop from rock to rock. It would be so fun. But I don't think any of my friends would come.

smells like diabetes

A night of poor judgement and warm summer breezes led us to purchasing these cupcakes. Magnolia's on Bleecker vs Crumbs on Broadway. Good thing I had just gotten milk that past weekend. The verdict? Crumbs has more extravagant and creative varieties while Magnolia's opts for classic cupcakes. Regardless, Crumbs has a superior cake and frosting texture. They are both diabetes in my hand.  

Metro adventure day

I got a Metro day pass. Only $5! I went around to 17 or 18 different stations and rode all the lines. It was fun to see all the different parts of LA and neighborhoods and people. Some stations look pretty swanky. It's a whole lot cleaner than NYC. They make some pretty good efforts to put art or themes in their stations. It really gives each station a unique personality. My roommate says I'm the only person she knows that rides Metro. Which is really too bad, because I think Metro is one of the better transit experiences in the States.  

colorful food

Bottega Louie in Downtown LA. Beautiful space. Beautiful food. Beautiful day. One of the first things we sought when I visited A for the first time. Certain foods we fell in love over. Macaroons one of them.

best subway performance

I remember as a child, my dad would tell me he had security cameras up so he would know if I practiced piano or not. I believed him. Perhaps I would have been the piano prodigy they had dreamed of if he had employed this method. 

This kid was playing like Beethoven. I thought it was a recording at first. The dad is tapping out the beat. And every so often the kid would look up, as if checking for approval (which we all know is never going to happen). After his piece, he runs around the platform like he's a superhero while his dad looks on shaking his head dissappointedly and beckoning him back to his seat. After his next piece, he looks up and his dad shakes his head like the child has just shamed the whole clan. And then people drop money into their bag. Kid makes bank! This is amazing. His fingers! So fast! So nimble! So musical!  

 Somehow, these guys are not quite as impressive.

windy city

It was super duper windy yesterday. A good place to be would have been inside. I would much rather listen to the wind howl and try to walk against it. Sometimes I find myself being tossed around like a rag doll in the gusty breath of New York winters. 

things I don't like

I stopped by the produce cart on my way back to the abode. I asked for romaine lettuce, and the guy says, "That's it?" So I also got carrots. And he says again, "That's all? Are you sure? We just got some ginger." So I go for the ginger too. I don't even like carrots, or ginger. So now I have to use all this ginger. We made gingersnap cookies, but they don't have the snap. They're actually good. Better than I expected. I'm impressed with my roommate and I. 

carbon packed roses

The guy I met at the airport brought me roses! How romantical! I love this pink on the white. Gorgeous.

 I removed all the petals and dropped some eucalyptus oil A left last year on them. It's a touch early for mosquito repellent, but my roommate allegedly saw one 2 weeks ago. Fingers crossed for a mild mosquito season this year.

beating heart

Times Square beating heart installation. It's supposed to beat faster if you touch it, and faster if more people touch it. Cute. I went to visit with a friend. What? Friend? I have friends? Be still my beating heart! It took little persuasion seeing as how the alternative was working on her thesis. Life is better with a travel buddy. I'll remain eternally grateful for friends who will go on whatever tame or wild journeys with me.

little pie company

On the way to my rock climbing gym - no, next to my rock climbing gym, lives a bakery called the Little Pie Company. They have a screen door they cool their goods in front of. You can smell the pie from the beginning of the block. There is an aura/cloud/bubble of good smells around the establishment. It's a wonder I ever make it to the climbing wall. This week they gave out a scoutmob for Little Pie Company. I got Mississippi Mud, Old Fashioned Apple, and Triple Berry - in order of preference after the taste test.

dinosaurs once roamed the land

Roar.

I got this dinosaur mold before I left for break. I've been excited to use it. I haven't had the bast record with cakes. Remember my attempt for A's birthday senior year? I'm not sure I remember what it was about, but I think we can both agree it wasn't my best work. I also remember burning out the hand mixer on that cake. It was quite a fiasco. But this time, S even asked for a 2nd piece. That must be a good sign, right?

Year of the dragon!!!

 I convinced some people to go out to Chinatown with me for the Chinese New Year parade. Friends? Dare I say I have friends? We arrived towards the end of it, and caught a glimpse of the crowd at the corner of where we entered to eat. We knew it was the tail end of the parade, but food was beckoning to us. There was so much silly string and confetti. I'd like to see what it's like in China one day for this.

While we were wandering, we noticed a new grocery store. Anybody that knows me should know I love grocery stores. Some people binge eat or watch sappy movies when they have a bad day, going in grocery stores serves as that type of therapy for me. Gotta love grocery store decor.

daylighting

I was not supposed to take pictures here. But I did anyway. Defiant until the day I die! This place was gorgeous, I just could not follow any societal conventions aside from which utensils to use. The food was amazing. The decor was amazing. The lighting was amazing. Although I'm pretty sure this place could have easily been found in the States, it was all amazing!