tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73892156332351836262024-03-12T20:19:05.889-04:00Colorkitten's Action BlogUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger408125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-86068786671423878542012-08-03T11:03:00.002-04:002012-08-03T11:04:29.016-04:00semi-weekly round-upBeen a tough couple of weeks working on a difficult job. That one's over now, so it's time to get to the stuff the difficult job made late. yay!<br />
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In most important kitten news, she is doing well. And is insanely cute. It's been a long time since we had a kitten in the house though, and I forgot how hyper they can be. Whew. She and the big cat aren't friends yet, but there is no fighting. Just suspicion and some dirty looks.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7615636822/" title="kitten rolling up her stats by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="kitten rolling up her stats" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7615636822_cf99435095.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
pretty pretty patterns I posted:</h3>
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My <a href="http://pinterest.com/colorkitten/">pinterest</a> is full of vintage patterns I find and like and collect virtually (because I have too many in real life!). Here's a few favorites from this week:<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/62768988527342459/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="381" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/62768988527342459_TD0geRi0_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Now <i>that </i>is a wiggle dress.</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/62768988527342457/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="399" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/62768988527342457_Btlb8gLG_c.jpg" width="300" /></a>
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Another amazing vintage bathing suit pattern..</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/62768988527348689/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/62768988527348689_p7jOIzIy_c.jpg" width="300" /></a>
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A little over the top but I thought it was pretty cool. </div>
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horror of the week: </h3>
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When I'm looking for pretty patterns, I sometimes find patterns that are...not. To save and share them I throw them up (har har) on tumblr at <a href="http://patternsofhorror.tumblr.com/">Patterns Of Horror</a>. Here's my pick of the week:<br />
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<a href="http://patternsofhorror.tumblr.com/post/28058345429/wouldnt-it-be-a-lot-easier-to-just-tell-the-kids"><img border="0" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7pxl1GrY41rtrniho1_500.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Those poor, poor children.</div>
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things I saw around:</h3>
Quinn Cummins (yes, that Quinn Cummings) wrote an <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443343704577549472535089552.html">article about homeschooling</a> for the Wall Street Journal that was excellent and balanced, and super-positive. As long as you avoid the comments, of course. <br />
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The NYPL blog posted a <a href="http://www.nypl.org/blog/2012/05/25/magic-moment-magic-gathering-interview#.UArGquE-5Jx.facebook">very funny interview</a> with some of the kids who play magic at our local library branch.<br />
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Not much else to say, really. And now, back to work!</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-45821866629646385362012-07-27T12:42:00.002-04:002012-07-27T12:43:20.051-04:00favorite song of the weekNot new but new to me, the studio original of The Teddybears' "Get Mama a House" (audio only):<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TXp0RM1ZMcg?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
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Want some visuals? Here they are in concert, not sure who the singer is there but every version of this song is great:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q8ypOh5CEac?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
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Have a good weekend!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-56649070193056187462012-07-24T10:01:00.000-04:002012-07-24T10:01:54.429-04:00the day the internet finally broke my brain.Sent to me by <a href="http://bonjourmizk.blogspot.com/">my friends in Switzerland</a>, some Japanese-Bavarian Euro-pop yodeling. And rapping. And chickens.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yO7MWuJ7zLA?rel=0" width="480"></iframe></div>
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Because, sure? Why not?<br />
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I actually think it's awesome that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeo_ischi">Takeo Ishii</a> loved Bavarian music and yodelling so much he quit being an engineer, moved to Germany and became a full-time award-winning yodelmeister. But my brain still hurts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-73941586579523463382012-07-20T09:56:00.002-04:002012-07-20T09:56:39.124-04:00end of the week round-upIt was a pretty busy week this week; lots of work, two minor injuries, classes, and weather that went from a heat index of well over 100° to me thinking I need to go dig a hoodie out -- in just a couple of days. Also, this happened:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7609399740/" title="kitten by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="kitten" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8289/7609399740_866dc75d03.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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She's a rescue kitten, maybe 3 months old, and we sort of ended up with her all of a sudden. Hopefully it works out (she and the big cat have to get along) because she is a sweetheart.<br />
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tweeted:</h3>
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Not much! Mostly I chatted and shared some RTs like this fantastic article on health and weightloss from <a href="https://twitter.com/comicsreporter">@comicsreporter</a>, "<a href="http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/comics_made_me_less_fat_how_i_lost_220_pounds_in_18_months/">Comics Made Me Somewhat Less Fat</a>", and the awesome <a href="http://yourlogoisnothardcore.tumblr.com/">Your Logo Is Not Hardcore</a> tumblr (via <a href="https://twitter.com/robharrigan">@robharrigan</a>).<br />
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* * * </div>
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And this blast from the past, the Madness Colgate advert. We used to have this on vhs!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gdcVRueT2cw?rel=0" width="480"></iframe></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
pretty pretty patterns:</h3>
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My <a href="http://pinterest.com/colorkitten/">pinterest</a> is full of vintage patterns I find and like and collect virtually (because I have too many in real life!). Here's a few favorites from this week:<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/62768988527224866/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="387" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/62768988527224866_RD19wpf2_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I love this dress with it's fake princess lines. Definitely sleeveless though.</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/62768988527192779/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="383" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/62768988527192779_YCaZOgAR_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Super-cute, definitely for the younger set though. Also might tend to poke you a lot.</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/62768988527208276/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/62768988527208276_xRUtIfXB_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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A spectacular bathing pattern (which had a spectacular price!). </div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
horror of the week: </h3>
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<br />
When I'm looking for pretty patterns, I sometimes find patterns that are...not. To save and share them I throw them up (har har) on tumblr at <a href="http://patternsofhorror.tumblr.com/">Patterns Of Horror</a>. Here's my pick of the week:<br />
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<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7b1ylWW751rtrniho1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7b1ylWW751rtrniho1_500.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Ugh. The only thing worse than hippies is middle class fake hippies with their creepy key parties and crap. </div>
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And now I really do need to go find a hoodie. And maybe make a mug of hot tea.</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-15518712772665220582012-07-16T09:53:00.000-04:002012-07-16T10:29:02.785-04:00Operetta has her own gang!Frankie was my first Monster High doll, and when Ghoulia came out she became my number one fave. But when <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006WAIIM4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006WAIIM4&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun">Operetta</a> was announced I knew she would be my new must-have -- I mean, a rockabilly monster gal? Whose crazy facial scarification leads into a full-length arm tattoo? Who plays guitar and skates on the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006O6EOE2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006O6EOE2&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun">Roller Derby</a> team? And loves biscuits? You can't ask for much more! Plus her pin-up style <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0073U4056/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0073U4056&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun">fashion set</a> is for a day out shopping for vintage vinyl records. Swoon!<br />
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The only drawback was her hair -- while we lucked out and got dolls with good hair, the style wasn't quite what I'd hoped for. But there was no way I was going to wash it out and wreck my lovely doll!<br />
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Finally last week I got the chance to try doing something new with her hair, when I spent a lovely day with my friend <a href="http://www.vivcore.com/">Vivien</a> playing with some spare messed-up dolls....she turned out a <a href="http://www.vivcore.com/dolly_daydream/operetta_hair.html">gorgeous record-shopping Operetta</a> and while I roughed out what I wanted to do with my doll's hair I wasn't able to get it into shape that day. And when we got home from our trip and finally had a little spare time, I had Emily's doll to contend with as well! But at last we're done, and here are the results!<br />
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First up, for reference purposes, is what Operetta is supposed to look like out of the package:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006WAIIM4/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006WAIIM4&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B006WAIIM4&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thehouseoffun" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thehouseoffun&l=as2&o=1&a=B006WAIIM4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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(Click <a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/811zR1pJ5iL._AA1500_.jpg">here</a> for close-up.) She doesn't quite look like this in real life, to be honest; the curls in the back just don't happen, the rolls are sticking out to the sides, and the bangs tend to be a bit lower than on the prototype. She can look really good though -- here's my original Operetta with factory-fresh hairstyle (wearing the fashion pack plus her little cropped jacket):<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7582597942/" title="Operetta - factory fresh fashion pack by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Operetta - factory fresh fashion pack" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/7582597942_78b578b65b.jpg" /></a></div>
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The rolls are a little goofy, and now that I'm getting picky I see that her bang roll is tilted -- but she's still a cutie and I'll be leaving her be.<br />
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My remake is a wrong-side-of-the-tracks Operetta, maybe even a little on the J.D. side. Teased up beehive, little bang curl, and a lot of sass:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7582597710/" title="Operetta - bad girl side by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Operetta - bad girl side" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7582597710_7ff55cf348.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7582597822/" title="Operetta - bad girl by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Operetta - bad girl" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/7582597822_97fc476f84.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7582597566/" title="Operetta - bad girl full by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Operetta - bad girl full" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7582597566_228912976b_z.jpg" width="337" /></a>
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You can't see it, but there's a white rose on the back of her head at the base of the bouffant. Her belt's been switched out with a generic Monster High belt (from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008410BOW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008410BOW&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun">witch set</a>) and her jacket's gone. She probably smokes, too. I was pretty happy with the way she turned out.<br />
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But I have to say, my pride and joy is the Operetta I did for Emily. She spent a day looking through my <span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://bobbypinblog.blogspot.com/">Lauren Rennells</a> books (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0981663915/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0981663915&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun&l=as2&o=1&a=0981663915">Vintage Hairstyling</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0981663923/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0981663923&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun&l=as2&o=1&a=0981663923">Retro Makeup</a>) and settled on the "Happy Pomp" style that's shown on the cover of Vintage Hairstyling. I had to modify it a bit to make it happen on a doll, but we were both incredibly pleased with the results. She even asked me to fasten Operetta's mask on as a hairclip in the back (where the original style has a clip-on flower). </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7582597432/" title="Operetta - pomp by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Operetta - pomp" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7582597432_8a3e08fa09.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7582597154/" title="Operetta - pomp side by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Operetta - pomp side" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/7582597154_b4d4df93a1.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7582597306/" title="Operetta - pomp back by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Operetta - pomp back" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7582597306_559fd6a776.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7582987010/" title="Operetta - pomp full length view by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Operetta - pomp full length view" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/7582987010_7719e87bb4_c.jpg" width="342" /></a>
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I kind of think I want to steal from my own child.<br />
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Here's the Operetta gang all together:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7582741130/" title="Operetta Gang by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Operetta Gang" height="346" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7582741130_a71dcdffae.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Now she's triplets! Final judgement? Best restyling doll ever. I bet I could do half the styles in <span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0981663915/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0981663915&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun&l=as2&o=1&a=0981663915">Vintage Hairstyling</a> on her and they'd all look amazing. Those thick bangs really make a world of difference. Still, I think the next retro restyle needs to be someone different, more than three Operettas would be ridiculous!</span></span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-56229544331076889932012-07-13T09:38:00.000-04:002012-07-13T09:38:00.408-04:00elsewhere this week....I can't say weekly wrap-up because I'm sure I'm so not going to manage this weekly....but here's some of the stuff I posted on other sites this week:<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
tweeted:</h3>
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Exciting news for us -- the crossover between roller derby and monster girls continues! The dolls have started coming out (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006O6EOII/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006O6EOII&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun">Ghoulia</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006O6EO5Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006O6EO5Q&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun">Frankie</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006O6EOE2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006O6EOE2&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun">Operetta</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006O6EO92/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006O6EO92&linkCode=as2&tag=thehouseoffun">Lagoona</a>) with at least two more on the way (a K-mart-only Abbey and a Clawdeen later in the year); and a videogame for the Wii/DS is <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/lace-up-your-skates-for-the-all-new-monster-hightm-skultimate-roller-mazetm-video-game-2012-07-09">coming out November 13th</a>. Unfortunately, it's a licensed game so the automatic rule kicks in that says it will stink, but you never know. In the meantime, we have our beloved <a href="http://wftda.com/jamcity">Jam City Roller Girls</a> to play.<br />
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Nicki Minaj on double standards:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lpt8WkyW4Pc?rel=0" width="480"></iframe></div>
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I'm not really a fan of her work, but I'm totally a fan of everything she's saying here because it's true. And tiring. And annoying. I could go on at length but I'm not really in the mood.<br />
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* * * </div>
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Punks Not Dad has a video out for their song "Monkey Boots", featuring a war between the Monkey Bootz gang and the "Ant Peeple". 80s references coming at you thick and fast.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dQQH26o0MHA?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
pretty pretty patterns:</h3>
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My <a href="http://pinterest.com/colorkitten/">pinterest</a> is full of vintage patterns I find and like and collect virtually (because I have too many in real life!). Here's a few favorites from this week:<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/62768988527153968/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinterest.com/upload/62768988527153968_RVjdVyWs_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Amazing early 1950s suit. If I was CEO of Something, I would totally want the black one.</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/62768988527154226/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/62768988527154226_CNUg8K7Q_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Super-cute 1940s dress. Although those scallops look like they'd be a total pain to sew.</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/62768988527150602/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="453" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinterest.com/upload/62768988527150602_V9RJUqoa_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Check out that amazing bodice. Amazing bodices. They're both amazing.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
horror of the week:</h3>
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When I'm looking for pretty patterns, I sometimes find patterns that are...not. To save and share them I throw them up (har har) on tumblr at <a href="http://patternsofhorror.tumblr.com/">Patterns Of Horror</a>. Here's my pick of the week:<br />
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<a href="http://patternsofhorror.tumblr.com/post/26835975996/i-feel-like-i-recognize-the-one-in-the"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6srd3MpGm1rtrniho1_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It wasn't really the worst, but it was the funniest.</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-66649087295104322682012-07-07T10:53:00.002-04:002012-07-07T10:54:30.500-04:0092 degrees and climbingBeen trying to finish off a handful of posts but it's just TOO DARN HOT.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4CYjE9Gv3A4?rel=0" width="640">&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Yo&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</iframe></div>
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Yow. It's a scorcher.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-2845901852476833742012-07-02T10:39:00.002-04:002012-07-02T10:45:12.763-04:00Heroes 2012 belated wrap-upSo somehow we once again took almost no photos! But we've got a few, starting with this one from somewhere on US-85, probably in NC. Pulled off to get gas and this...business establishment...was across the street. There was no sign to indicate what this place was. All we know for sure is they have an ALL GIRL STAFF!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7487211070/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="all girl staff by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="all girl staff" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7487211070_9a9d99b531_z.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Girl Staff. </td></tr>
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We got in late Thursday and didn't do anything, but Friday we got up and had our table set up in plenty of time. We had a great day -- probably the best of the whole weekend, weirdly enough. To add to the greatness, our tables were adjacent to our Haus of Cute pals, <a href="http://www.stephaniebuscema.com/">Stephanie Buscema</a> and <a href="http://harriganworks.com/">Rob Harrigan</a> so we got to chat with them on and off all weekend. And best of all, our BFFs <a href="http://vivcore.com/">Vivien</a> and Dusty Hoffpauir arrived that afternoon to help us out all weekend (ha! didn't know you were doing that, did you?!) and join in on the fun. For dinner, Dusty found us the amazing <a href="http://www.kingskitchen.org/">King's Kitchen</a>, where I can totally recommend any of the "Meat and Three" plates but have to warn you that you should plan on splitting dessert if you don't want to go into sugar shock. <br />
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After dinner we headed back to the hotel and Evan headed off to the annual <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/330619643684456/">Drink & Draw</a> fundraiser:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/7448033744/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="523 by Heather Mobley Peagler, on Flickr"><img alt="523" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8015/7448033744_d71b33f7f5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evan with Roger Langridge at the Drink & Draw; Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/">Heather Mobley Peager</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/7448042032/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="527 by Heather Mobley Peagler, on Flickr"><img alt="527" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7448042032_c914bf5954.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yo! Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/">Heather Mobley Peager</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/7448055570/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="532 by Heather Mobley Peagler, on Flickr"><img alt="532" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7136/7448055570_28bba02a57.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love them with money! Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/">Heather Mobley Peager</a></td></tr>
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Saturday was the big day at the con, the whole Stan Lee shebang was going on all day. The hall was so crowded I actually think it may have hurt people's table sales, because attendees could barely get around! Still a good day though; and Emily "cosplayed" for the very first time (pretty sure it wasn't the last!) -- she was a sort of Golden Age Wonder Woman as interpreted by the two of us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7487211158/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="wonder girl! by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="wonder girl!" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7257/7487211158_853342ae04_z.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little Wonder Girl!</td></tr>
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I made it a wearable dress so that it would be reusable -- the eagle is from a <a href="http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Simplicity_8720_A">1978 Simplicity costume pattern</a> I have, appliqued in felt onto a basic bodice with a circle skirt added. She had matching bike shorts on underneath and a set of accessories made from glitter craft foam. It was a big day for her, a good friend of hers was visiting and they had a good time running around the con. And thanks to her friend's mom (who is <i>my </i>friend!) Emily got sketches on her own for the very first time! A new Owly from <a href="http://www.andyrunton.com/">Andy Runton</a>, and a sketch of Marceline (from Adventure Time) from the very kind <a href="http://www.tencentticker.com/ninjasaur/">Jason Horn</a>.<br />
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Dinner Saturday was at the excellent <a href="http://www.diamondcharlotte.com/">Diamond</a>, which is apparently a sort of resurrection of the Penguin, which we'd been to in past years. Whatever the deal is, the menu was the same and the food was amazing. Got back to the Westin at the tail end of the art auction and ran into the amazing <a href="http://www.theartofpaigey.com/2012/06/aftermath-heroescon-2012.html">Paige Pumphrey</a> (who I met last year) and <a href="http://www.ballsyart.com/">her husband Phil</a> -- she introduced us all to her friends <a href="http://mariartist.blogspot.com/2012/06/post-heroes-con.html">Maria Danalakis</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleAsianSweatshop?ref=pr_shop_more">Fenny</a> and fun was had by all until after midnight. Ahem. Luckily for me my kid is normally up that late. <br />
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Sunday was the "quiet day" and to be honest, at that point we'd been so busy all weekend it was beginning to all kind of blur.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/7449369710/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="1099 by Heather Mobley Peagler, on Flickr"><img alt="1099" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8168/7449369710_b52b6d9b15_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evan signing a book, Emily probably playing Scribblenauts. Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/">Heather Mobley Peager</a></td></tr>
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I did get a chance at the very end of the show to run over to the booth Paige and her friends had -- Fenny had left but I did scoop up some awesome stuff from Paige and Maria:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7487210944/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="maria by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="maria" height="326" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/7487210944_38e684d9a6_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adorable pocket mirror from Maria Danalakis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7487210854/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="paigey by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="paigey" height="308" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8143/7487210854_c6d8b71208_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assorted Paigey goods</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7487210722/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="witches by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="witches" height="360" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8007/7487210722_a102744c87_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cute witch earrings from Paigey! The frames reminded me of Locket Kiddles!</td></tr>
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Incredibly, even though I was right next to Stephanie all weekend I never picked up any of her seriously cute stuff -- but the totes, notebooks and jewelry are up in her shop now, do yourself a favor and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wreckinbyrd">check it out</a>!<br />
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Finally the show was over and booths and tables started coming down. We've been going to Heroes for several years now and I think this was the best show yet -- Heroes is always a great con, totally focused on comics and art and the friendliest con you'll ever go to -- but this year took top honors. Even Emily did well -- she ended up selling 7 of her floral hairpin sets!!<br />
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And the official end-of con gathering was great fun as well, while I was outside hanging with the rest of the Retro Girl Gang Evan and our girl were inside having a great time too; luckily Heather Mobley Peager caught the moment on film:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/7457511810/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="1304 by Heather Mobley Peagler, on Flickr"><img alt="1304" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7457511810_f59e1b5160_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evan and Roger chat while Emily polishes off Mickey Mouse Vol 3; Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/">Heather Mobley Peager</a></td></tr>
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Thanks again to everyone who makes HeroesCon so awesome, from the con and amongst the fans, and we'll see you next year! (And special thanks to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54091968@N04/">Heather Mobley Peager</a> for letting me use some of her excellent con photos!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-17238545495012661572012-06-20T08:59:00.000-04:002012-06-20T08:59:20.714-04:00the House of Crafts is headed to Heroes!<a href="http://www.heroesonline.com/heroescon/">Heroes Con</a> in Charlotte NC has become our "home con" over the past few years, and is the only major con we're doing at all this year. We'll be in the front of the <a href="http://www.heroesonline.com/heroescon/indie-island/">Indie Island</a> section at tables AA-516 and AA-517. Evan's got <a href="http://evandorkin.livejournal.com/284097.html">the complete rundown</a> on books and art we'll have but we're also bringing some new craftiness - we're trying out some handcrafted House of Fun jewelry! The sun wouldn't cooperate so I don't have excellent photos, or photos of everything, but here's a sampling:<br />
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We've got some "comic panel" necklaces with various scenes from (mostly recent) HOF strips:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7407581530/" title="House of Crafts by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7264/7407581530_4519b154f1.jpg" width="500" height="350" alt="House of Crafts"></a></div>
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Here's Evan's favorite:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7407581610/" title="House of Crafts by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8168/7407581610_9750b09315.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="House of Crafts"></a></div>
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There are these cool round pendant necklaces with all-new images in them:</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7407581744/" title="House of Crafts by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7407581744_1749a7a54c.jpg" width="424" height="500" alt="House of Crafts"></a></div>
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And one of my favorites, the good cat (the, um, Crappy Cat -- that's his name! -- didn't come out in the photos)</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7407581664/" title="House of Crafts by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7407581664_0f73e98b0c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="House of Crafts"></a></div>
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Matching earrings!! Well, for a few designs:</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7407581414/" title="House of Crafts by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7407581414_ab2a24cac2.jpg" width="339" height="500" alt="House of Crafts"></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7407581346/" title="House of Crafts by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/7407581346_40257f9b80.jpg" width="401" height="500" alt="House of Crafts"></a></div>
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And in addition, our Junior Member Emily has come up with a line of floral hairpins she makes by herself (really, by herself -- well, except when it comes to the giant paper cutter). More info on them is <a href="http://garden.houseoffun.com/">on her page</a> but here are two of my favorite sets. </div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7407581888/" title="Emily's Garden by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/7407581888_9fc8891bd0_o.jpg" width="400" height="290" alt="Emily's Garden"></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7407581796/" title="Emily's Garden by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5350/7407581796_8716efa4ef_o.jpg" width="400" height="287" alt="Emily's Garden"></a></div>
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And now to finish up getting ready and making arrangements -- we leave tomorrow and we hope to see some of you there this weekend!!</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-32599840290396857802012-05-25T12:18:00.001-04:002012-05-25T12:18:55.752-04:00it's book club time!Seriously (and this proves how lame things are around here) one of the most exciting things that's happened recently was finding out that homeschoolers get to join the Scholastic Book Club too. I loved the Scholastic catalogs when I was in elementary school (I don't remember them going past that at our school). So I totally geeked out when I found out we could do it too. If you homeschool, just go to their <a href="https://clubs2.scholastic.com/">club page</a>, sign up as a teacher (you'll need to make up a school name) and they'll have you set up within about 48 hours. (And drop me a line - I can generate a coupon to use on your first order that gives you enough bonus points for a free book or two on your 2nd order!)<br />
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Books are up to half off and they have some exclusive gift sets (Hunger games trilogy with a Mockingjay pin, for example) but do check prices before ordering, because a few books I saw were considerably cheaper on Amazon.<br />
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We should get our first order today and I know a little girl who's going to be super-excited to get some more books in one of her current fave series, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/mn/search/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=goddess%20girls&url=search-alias%3Daps" target="_blank">Goddess Girls</a> (by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams). I like these books a lot too, although I think they're probably best for readers that have some background in Greek mythology already.<br />
<br />
I'm personally very fond of book one, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/141698271X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=141698271X">Athena the Brain</a>, in which nerd-goddess girl Athena finds out she's immortal and transfers to Mount Olympus Academy, and Em says it's her favorite too (because the Trojan War and the Odyssey get covered in it):<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/141698271X/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=141698271X"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=141698271X&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=thehouseoffun&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a>
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She also really liked <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442421002/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1442421002">Aphrodite the Diva</a> because it guests stars Goddess Girls from the Egyptian pantheon (and she's hoping they get their own series eventually-- me too!)<br />
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Scholastic definitely has the best price on them, and they seem to be releasing each book with a bonus; a set of all 8 or the first 5 comes with a charm bracelet, and at the moment the newest book (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442433795/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1442433795">Medusa the Mean</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thehouseoffun&l=as2&o=1&a=1442433795" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />) comes with a replica of a necklace that's part of the story. Cute!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-9801565612834724212012-05-03T13:05:00.000-04:002012-05-03T13:05:27.538-04:00appearing soon!We've got some upcoming appearances I'm a bit tardy in mentioning! First up is this Saturday, <a href="http://www.freecomicbookday.com/">Free Comic Book Day 2012</a>: we'll be at our local friendly comic shop <a href="http://comicbookjones.com/">Comic Book Jones</a> from noon to...2 or 3 or so to sign our story in this (and anything else!)<br />
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The next weekend we'll be setting up at the <a href="http://asburyparkcomicon.com/">Asbury Park Comic Con</a>, which looks like it will be amazing fun -- it's in a bowling alley! With snack bar! Across from the boardwalk! Not sure what the schedule is but we'll be there all day. And now I have to show off the lovely featured guest graphic they made for me because I love it:<br />
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Both events should be a lot of fun, and it'll be nice to get out of the house! Maybe we'll see a few of you there!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1209 4th Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712, USA40.2228919 -74.002003340.221376400000004 -74.004470799999993 40.2244074 -73.9995358tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-10337225675908565722012-04-09T09:57:00.000-04:002012-04-09T09:57:00.613-04:00patterns of horror!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m243ezoWP81rtrniho1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m243ezoWP81rtrniho1_500.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br />
On Pinterest I keep reference boards of my favorite vintage patterns I've found -- <a href="http://pinterest.com/colorkitten/vintage-patterns/">for women</a>, and <a href="http://pinterest.com/colorkitten/vintage-patterns-for-girls/">for girls</a>. These are patterns I don't own that I want to look at again and Pinterest seems to be the best way to organize them - I can see them as much as I want, I can tag them, organize them, print them and share them.<br />
<br />
But when I am looking at vintage patterns, I very often find patterns that are.....amazing. Exceptional. Perhaps even....terrifying. I don't want to save them to Pinterest, because I don't want to ever see them again! But I always want to share the awfulness. And now I can -- I've started a tumblr just so I can save and share.... <a href="http://patternsofhorror.tumblr.com/">Patterns...Of...Horror</a>!! Come on over and share the madness!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-37293959988962273292012-04-08T09:22:00.001-04:002012-04-08T09:22:00.787-04:00Happy Easter!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="gail patrick easter crop, 1938" height="375" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/7048391457_a148d01780.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonated/with/7048391457/">from carbonated on flickr</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-50957970498956417122012-04-04T15:20:00.000-04:002012-04-04T15:20:30.739-04:00a thing of sewing beauty<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007CPG43I/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007CPG43I"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mJ1E9DwH9Qs/T3yd12dH-hI/AAAAAAAABjc/gdM12JNah5E/s400/singer160.jpg" width="400" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thehouseoffun&l=as2&o=1&a=B007CPG43I" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><br />
I just stumbled across the lovely anniversary Singer 160, isn't it pretty? I'm not in the market for a new machine right now and it's not in my price range anyway, but wow. Check out Singer's pretty little website for it <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CGYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.singerco.com%2F160&ei=sJt8T-_KFcrY0QHam-nYCw&usg=AFQjCNEt6YluJuDBbxKwQ_QmxAy06fZitg&sig2=ZQ8cQXf8TxoVfx0XcAQw3Q">here</a>. (And if you happen to actually be in the market for a machine, Joann's has it significantly marked down sometime in the next couple of weeks -- their flyer is where I saw it!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-39241528608852721832012-03-29T12:50:00.001-04:002012-03-29T12:57:14.511-04:00Good Night, Mr. Scruggs, and thank you for the biscuitsWe were sorry to hear the news that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Scruggs">Earl Scruggs</a> passed away <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/arts/music/earl-scruggs-bluegrass-banjo-player-dies-at-88.html">yesterday</a>; as a family we are big fans of Flatt & Scruggs and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foggy_Mountain_Boys">Foggy Mountain Boys</a>, as well as Scruggs on his own after the split. Emily had hoped he would hang on just a few years longer so she could hear him play live! She became a huge fan of the whole band when we started watching the Flatt & Scruggs show in Netflix last year. Here's a short clip of Earl in prime form:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0pWnZFrdQFE?rel=0" width="480"></iframe></div><br />
The Flatt & Scruggs show (which was one early version of the Grand Old Opry, sponsored by Martha White Flour) is fantastic -- I'm not sure how much of it is actually available, but there are several volumes available on amazon, and the first 8 volumes are streaming on Netflix.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LW7L1S/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000LW7L1S"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000LW7L1S&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=thehouseoffun&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thehouseoffun&l=as2&o=1&a=B000LW7L1S" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><br />
But to be honest, the biggest impact Earl Scruggs had on our household is in the kitchen. We heard that a biscuit recipe of his had been printed for many years by Martha White, and I finally tracked it down in <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1558530355/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1558530355%22%3EMartha%20White%27s%20Southern%20Sampler:%20Ninety%20Years%20of%20Baking%20Tradition%3C/a%3E">their cookbook</a>. We made it just for fun...but it actually is the best recipe I have ever used -- just look at the results!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/7026972383/" title="Earl Scrugg's Biscuits by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Earl Scrugg's Biscuits" height="375" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/7026972383_8103ebd098.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
Biscuits are a regular feature on our table; sometimes as a side but honestly, most often as dinner (with sides of homemade sausage and a lot of honey and syrup.)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/6880872970/" title="Earl Scrugg's Biscuits by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="Earl Scrugg's Biscuits" height="375" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7253/6880872970_80a4293c97.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
The recipe has been replaced on their site with a new version that uses crisco and is now just called "famous" biscuits so here's how I make it:<br />
<br />
<b>Earl Scrugg's Famous Buttermilk Biscuits</b><br />
<br />
First, melt<b> 2 T of butter </b>and set aside, and preheat oven to 450F<br />
<br />
You will need<b> 2 cups Self-Rising Flour</b> OR<br />
<b>2 cups flour + 1 T baking powder + 3/4 t salt</b><br />
To that add <b>1 t sugar</b> and whisk (or pulse in a food processor)<br />
Add <b>1/3 cup butter,</b> chilled and cut up and either pulse in processor or cut in with pastry cutter until the mixture looks mealy. <br />
Add <b>1 c buttermilk</b> and stir in until it's shaggy looking. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead until smooth (don't be afraid to sprinkle extra flour in there); roll out to 1/2" and then cut into rounds. Place on baking sheet and bake in oven for 12-15 minutes. When golden brown, remove and brush with melted butter. Put on some Foggy Mountain Boys and enjoy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-33429181655139655912012-03-16T09:47:00.000-04:002012-03-16T09:47:31.063-04:00spring is springing<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/6984519295/" title="daffodils by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="daffodils" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6984519295_475d77acbe.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The trees are budding, the bulbs are blooming, and spring is coming to the garden. Which is great except....I pulled out a garden journal I kept with Emily in 2009-2010 and this is what our garden looked like those years around April 10th. Hopefully this all just means a very early spring and not a fake trick spring followed by a freeze that kills it all.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/6838397766/" title="pachysandra blossom by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="pachysandra blossom" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/6838397766_cb66f77e29.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Just to be safe, we're taking it easy, not planting any seeds yet, just cleaning and preparing things and enjoying what's going on. And one thing I'm doing is sorting out the seeds, records and so on that we have. Last week I stumbled across a mention of <a href="http://www.myfolia.com/gardener/Colorkitten/invite">MyFolia</a>, a garden tracking site (that's totally free and prettily designed). I set up an account and I'm slowly adding in whatever info I can find on our existing plants -- I think it's going to be a big help in the long run! Even if all you do is plant a handful of containers, it's worth checking out.<br />
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Here's to happy planting!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-59545876198931961062012-03-12T14:52:00.000-04:002012-03-12T14:52:11.527-04:00Girl Scout Birthday Cookies!Last Girl Scout post today, I swear! We made Birthday cookies for the day, using <a href="http://sweetopia.net/2012/01/shortbread-cookie-recipe-alice-in-wonderland-cookies/">this shortbread recipe</a> from Sweetopia, my vintage Girl Scout trefoil cookie cutter and the vanilla glaze we used on the <a href="http://blog.colorkitten.com/2012/03/happy-girls-and-ghouls-day.html">Bloody Oreos</a>. So pretty!!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/6830720678/" title="girl scout birthday cookies by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="girl scout birthday cookies" height="375" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/6830720678_bac34e8003.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/6976845951/" title="girl scout birthday cookies by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="girl scout birthday cookies" height="375" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6976845951_cf3bdb3e18.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
I'm not sure I'm loving the taste of the shortbread, by the way. But it does make for a perfectly shaped cutout and the texture is as meltaway as promised. <br />
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Now we're off to work on a Brownie badge and get ready for the virtual Promise Circle tonight -- at 7:12 pm EST Girl Scouts and alumnus will be saying the promise together all over the world. Exciting!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-67364360827334863522012-03-12T14:00:00.000-04:002012-03-12T14:00:04.658-04:00Girl Scouts Birthday GalleryThe <a href="http://images.google.com/hosted/life/6948018a55efbda5.html">gallery</a> of Life Magazine photos I linked to in the last post has some great photos, all from 1952. Here are a few more of my favorites:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HXig488AZa8/T10Y61J8DsI/AAAAAAAABjI/0pAVY7JcPy4/s1600/scouts+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HXig488AZa8/T10Y61J8DsI/AAAAAAAABjI/0pAVY7JcPy4/s1600/scouts+kitchen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably not an approved Girl Scout method of getting dishes down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fpyA7yLLHJ8/T10Y6EDGUJI/AAAAAAAABi4/j-n7J_HcsZ0/s1600/scouts++brownies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fpyA7yLLHJ8/T10Y6EDGUJI/AAAAAAAABi4/j-n7J_HcsZ0/s1600/scouts++brownies.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I looked in the water and saw...myself!" The Brownie ceremony is still done the same way today.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B5QgMOX7QiY/T10Y7TEZREI/AAAAAAAABjQ/NGMsPPPdjAw/s1600/scouts+snacking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B5QgMOX7QiY/T10Y7TEZREI/AAAAAAAABjQ/NGMsPPPdjAw/s1600/scouts+snacking.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Brownie troop having snacks on an excursion. I want popcorn in a devilcat box!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d91mN69d1Cg/T10Y6rW1yOI/AAAAAAAABjA/qPuC_UA-Z2U/s1600/scouts+cat+help.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d91mN69d1Cg/T10Y6rW1yOI/AAAAAAAABjA/qPuC_UA-Z2U/s1600/scouts+cat+help.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMG. That poor cat. How it is not freaking out I can't imagine. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>There are tons more, including scenes you'd expect from 1950s scouts (camping, toasting marshmallows, friendship circles, cookie sales, lots of saddle shoes) and some you might not (martial arts, girls running for a train, and a Boy Scout/Girl Scout social). Worth checking out if you're interested in Scouts, or you just enjoy candid photos from long ago! <i>All taken in February 1952 by Edward Clark, © Time Inc.</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-19187754579672586792012-03-12T09:58:00.000-04:002012-03-12T09:58:29.091-04:00Happy 100th Birthday!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4XCgaPQqBsQ/T10VThsSN3I/AAAAAAAABiw/wyjVxwusr38/s1600/dollscouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4XCgaPQqBsQ/T10VThsSN3I/AAAAAAAABiw/wyjVxwusr38/s1600/dollscouts.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How cute is this 1950s Junior Troop? From a <a href="http://images.google.com/hosted/life/6948018a55efbda5.html">gallery of Life Magazine photos</a> by Edward Clark.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Today is the 100th Birthday of Girl Scouting in the US -- Emily is a 3rd-generation Girl Scout and proud of it; I was a Girl Scout, a Leader and am currently an Independent Scout Mentor, and my mother was both a US Girl Scout and a Girl Guide in the UK. We are not a dyed-green all-scouts all the time family, but it's obviously been an important part of our lives. Happy Birthday, Girl Scouts, and here's to 100 more great years!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-90462622856505777392012-03-10T12:14:00.000-05:002012-03-10T12:14:40.873-05:00Happy Girl's and Ghoul's Day!March 3rd is Girl's Day in Japan, and we've celebrated it every year since Emily was born, usually by going to Mitsuwa in NJ and having lots of food and fun. This year we had a <a href="http://quaintrellelife.blogspot.com/">special guest girl</a> to celebrate with us (and we let our boys come as well) and I think it was the best one yet -- in no small part because we also celebrated Ghoul's Day that evening! Girl's Day is also the Doll Festival and all three of us are huge Monster High fans -- so Emily had the idea to have a spooky doll-related party as a surprise for everyone. We made everything a day or two ahead of time and hid it, and after resting up from our day out on the 3rd we had some spooky fun. The highlight, of course, was the food:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/6956876169/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="ghoul's day: party food! by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="ghoul's day: party food!" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6956876169_74bcb8def3.jpg" width="409" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ghoul's Day party food!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">We made the official drink of Monster High, Ghoulia's Ghoul Juice -- it's a recipe you can win on the website by playing a game (or just <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29399546@N08/5355487904/">look up online</a>). Looking at the directions, I realized it was just lemonade with food coloring added, and a bit of baking soda thrown in for fizz. So I just used our normal lemonade recipe and colored it bright green. No gummy eyeballs were to be found in March, so we just used maraschino cherries -- and skipped the fizzy baking soda part.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/6810765902/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="ghoul's day: ghoul juice by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="ghoul's day: ghoul juice" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6810765902_32e6934659.jpg" width="391" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ghoulia's Ghoul Juice (a.k.a. bright green lemonade)</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bloody Oreos were next on our list -- originally I meant to use some leftover red candy melts, but they never really melted (and to be honest, I think that stuff is gross). We were almost out of time but I found a recipe for a glaze that worked perfectly (1/3 c butter, 2 c powdered sugar, 2 t vanilla and 2-4 t hot water -- melt butter, add everything else and whisk until smooth). We colored it bright red and drizzled it on our cookies and came up with this:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/6810765764/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="ghoul's day: bloody oreos by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="ghoul's day: bloody oreos" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7176/6810765764_d7ed465dc7.jpg" width="406" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oreos dripping with vanilla sugar blood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Seriously cool, and tasty as well! But the coolest looking snack had to be our Brain Puffs, based on a snack that the zombie girl, Ghoulia, has in her <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XPIPT6/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004XPIPT6">slumber party version</a>. Emily thinks that popcorn looks a lot like brains, and I vaguely remembered saving a clipping from a 1960s magazine for making colored popcorn. I never did find the clipping, but luckily I remembered jello was involved and it turns out jello popcorn is a well known classic snack. I used cherry jello and <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/12/fruity-candy-popcorn/">this recipe</a>, made human-sized boxes and we filled them with our Brain Puffs!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/6810765864/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="ghoul's day: brain puffs by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="ghoul's day: brain puffs" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/6810765864_6f5e1d7c80.jpg" width="417" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BRAAAAAIIIIIIINS!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>I have to admit, the candied popcorn was a little sweet for us. It does keep well, but with a box of bloody oreos in the house to go for instead it didn't really have a chance. And without the box, the spookiness is pretty much lost. But the bloody oreos and ghoul juice will definitely be coming back for Halloween!<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-12218475142601025822012-03-10T12:13:00.000-05:002012-03-10T12:13:21.958-05:00whoah, nellie!Alright, the rss feeds have automatically switched....unfortunately they marked the last 25 posts as new and dumped them in Reader for me so I assume you all got them too. Sorry about that! First actual new post coming up....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-77156683296728990312012-03-07T11:45:00.001-05:002012-03-07T11:45:08.124-05:00well, hey there!I'm in the process of transferring/merging my old movable type blog to a shiny new blogger version of itself. The blogger version is here for now, but shortly will be found at www.colorkitten.com. Well shortly as in, in a day or two. I think the feeds will move to the ones you see in the sidebar right now, but I'm not 100% sure. Hopefully this will make it possible for me to blog again, because wrangling with the old MT installation had just become more than I could bear. Sit tight, and see you here/there soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-13653768193400943692011-05-17T07:03:00.001-04:002012-03-07T13:37:44.536-05:00go west, young gal!!I've got a <a href="http://tumblingwest.blogspot.com/">new blog</a>, and you're welcome to stop by and visit!<br />
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<a href="http://tumblingwest.blogspot.com/"><img alt="tumbleweedssmall.jpg" border="0" height="45" src="http://www.colorkitten.com/art/tumbleweedssmall.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Now I know what you're thinking - you're thinking "You don't blog over here, why on earth would you start a new blog?" Well, a lot of reasons. But basically, I have no time to do the kind of blog posts I <i>want </i>to do here -- and I have been wanting to write up some of the cool stuff we've been watching/reading/listening to which just doesn't seem to fit in on this blog. Plus, I'm sick of wrangling with Movable Type (my blogging software) but don't have a weekend to upgrade or switch.<br />
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So, I've started a little Western-themed blog over in my blogger account. What will you find there? Well, whatever catches my fancy - videos, books, etc. But one of the main reasons I've started the blog is to chronicle our adventures watching every Gene Autry movie. In order! This blog is not dead, and hopefully someday I'll have free time again in stretches that last more than 5 minutes and I'll post all the things I have photos filed away for. (In fact, I have something to post about right now! "Right now" meaning this week, that is..) But in the meantime, I'll be scratching the blogging itch with some quick and fun posts on the new blog.<br />
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Anyway, I hope you'll come on over and say hi! <a href="http://tumblingwest.blogspot.com/">See you there</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-80778840622985620152011-03-13T09:02:00.001-04:002012-03-07T13:38:03.174-05:00yum yum yogurtHere's a post that's been in draft mode for over a year...I even have had photos for it this whole time. (Which, ha ha, I can't seem to find. I did find a few but I know there were more. If I find them later I'll add them!) So sad! But after explaining how I make yogurt once again last week to friends I realized I really, <i>really</i>, needed to get this finished up so I could just send people here.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/5522574993/" title="fresh yogurt by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="fresh yogurt" border="0" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5522574993_cfd05d04c0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i>A big jar of fresh yogurt</i><br />
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A little back story: we eat a fair amount of yogurt around here. Emily has been eating it since she was tiny, and from the get-go I bought plain yogurt and added fruit purees instead of buying the commercial stuff. I found that I really needed to buy a better brand of yogurt, but getting those giant cartons was really adding up. I was super-intimidated by the idea of making my own yogurt since all the directions I had read involved either a lot of equipment, or an oven with a pilot light, or a system involving warm water and a cooler.....but then, I read the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400044103/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1400044103">Milk</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thehouseoffun&l=as2&o=1&a=1400044103" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. It was a revelation, seriously. (I recommend it highly to anyone interested in dairy...the "white magic" experiments alone are worth the price of the book. And are the subject of yet another blog post that's sitting in draft mode.....) And her method for making yogurt? So easy. All you need is a candy thermometer, large pan, and wide-mouth thermal containers. No yogurt maker, no cooler, none of the other stuff I'd always seen called for in various methods.<br />
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I tried it, it worked, and I've made all our yogurt for about 2 years now. Here's how I do it (after some tweaking and experimenting). You will need: milk (I prefer whole milk), some starter yogurt (it can be anything as long as the cultures are live; I started mine with Stonyfield Farm plain), your <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000095RBW/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000095RBW">candy thermometer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thehouseoffun&l=as2&o=1&a=B000095RBW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, and at least one wide mouth thermal container (I use this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00164TKGO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thehouseoffun&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00164TKGO">Sky Thermal Food Carrier</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=B00164TKGO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> made by Imusa and available locally for about $8). Optionally, a large sieve and straining cloth if you want a thicker yogurt.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/5522575023/" title="fresh yogurt by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="fresh yogurt" border="0" height="375" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5522575023_e55bd2035f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i>Yum!</i><br />
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Get started: clip your thermometer onto a saucepan, then pour in enough milk to fill the wide mouth container you will use -- 6 cups of milk will fill a 48 oz container and makes a decent size batch. I make twice that, but like I said, we eat a lot of yogurt. Turn the heat on low-med and heat the milk -- stirring occasionally -- until the temp reaches 180º.<i> Note: if you, say, forget that you're making yogurt and lose track of time, your milk can go up to about 220º and it will still make perfectly good yogurt. It won't taste as fresh but you don't need to throw it out or anything. Not that I'm admitting that's happened to me....just saying.</i><br />
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Turn off the heat, and let the milk's temperature drop to about 120º. When it gets close, fill your thermal container with hot water and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. Get your starter yogurt out and put a few tablespoons into a small bowl (I use maybe 2 tablespoons per 6 c milk but my experience has been that you don't need to be too precise) and let that sit as well.<br />
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When the milk cools down to 120º, remove the thermometer and skim off any skin that may have formed, then ladle some milk into the bowl with the starter yogurt, whisking until ismooth. Add more milk if it's too thick. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk and stir. <i>NOTE: do </i>not <i> let it go below 120º, this is the one mistake that will ruin the yogurt.</i><br />
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Empty the thermal container and wipe dry, pour milk mix into container and close it up. Let sit for 5-6 hours. Your timing my vary - you'll get a feel for how long it needs to sit based on your particular milk/yogurt/environment over time.<br />
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When it's time to check it, open the lid of the container and carefully use a spoon or spatula to just check the texture of the yogurt -- it should be like a soft custard. At this point you can either use it as it is -- just pot it up and refrigerate it, or for a smoother yogurt, pour it into a large bowl and stir before potting up. Or, at this point you can drain it for a "greek-style" yogurt. Which is what we do.<br />
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To drain it, I use a mesh strainer over my biggest stockpot, with an old (and very clean) tea towel lining the strainer. You can use fine cheesecloth, gauze, or even an old piece of cotton as long as it's clean and lint-free. Pour the yogurt into the strainer and cover (with a towel, or anything, just for dust -- I can sit the lid of the pot on top of the strainer, so I do that). You'll hear the whey start dripping right away! It takes 1-2 hours to drain, depending on your strainer and cloth -- I only need about an hour. You want about 2 cups of whey to come out of a 6 cup batch. Again, this doesn't need to be too precise. The longer you drain it, the thicker it gets, so try different draining times to see what you like best.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/3817120426/" title="For MizK by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="For MizK" border="0" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3817120426_4e4edb1372.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i>Here's how thick I make my yogurt. Do you think I go overboard a little? </i><br />
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When it's ready, scrape it all into a large bowl and you can do two things -- if you want it to be very set, just mix it with a wooden spoon a few times to smooth it out. It will be very firm but it will have small lumps in it. If you want it to be very smooth, whisk it briefly. This will break the curd, so the final product will be looser, but very smooth. I do it the 2nd way.<br />
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Finally, just put it in the fridge and let cool! Then add whatever mix-ins you want. We add strawberry puree and peach puree for Emily; I mostly eat it with a little honey mixed in, or preserves (cloudberry jam yogurt is delicious!) This will last a lot longer than commercial yogurt -- I've never had mine go bad, just get more and more sour. Just remember that you need to save a little starter for your next batch.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jinjur/3771796086/" title="cloudberry yogurt by colorkitten, on Flickr"><img alt="cloudberry yogurt" border="0" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3771796086_68c97b62c3.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<i>Cloudberries in my yogurt!</i><br />
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A few final notes:<br />
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I don't scald or sterilize anything. I haven't had anything weird happen, even the yogurt that has gotten left by accident has never grown anything, just gotten more and more sour.<br />
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I have successfully restarted my yogurt from a bit of frozen starter after travelling, so if you're going away just pop enough to start your next batch in the freezer.<br />
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If you use skim milk, you may need to add some dry milk to get it thick enough. I have never done this so I don't really know how it works. I'm all about the whole milk yogurt.<br />
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If you don't drink milk, you can use this method with soy milk! Check out <a href="http://ieatfood.net/2009/02/01/how-to-make-soy-milk-again-and-soy-yogurt/">these instructions</a> from I Eat Food, which even tell you how to make the soy milk!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389215633235183626.post-84036981368549707472011-03-13T08:29:00.000-04:002012-03-07T11:39:19.969-05:00now, where was I...?I'm not a fan of "why I haven't been blogging" posts but it's been such a long gap this time, I felt I had to say something. Basically, the last 3 months have been a serious struggle, between massive amounts of snow, the cruddiness of NYC in this year's blizzards, a neighbor's broken water main that created a new ice age on our block and a serious health problem in the family. Work has also been....interesting and a bit volatile. It's going to be a weird year.<br /><br/>Thanks to those of you who have inquired and been supportive through it all. Things are clearing up again, and while I still don't have time to blog (or sew! which is SO UPSETTING!) I figure I can at least start finishing up some of the many, MANY blog posts I have in draft mode. So that's my plan for the short term, especially some of the how-tos I am constantly retelling and rewriting for people, having them up will save me a lot of time!<br /><br/>First up, yogurt!!<br /><br/>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1