the weekend

Wish I could go to Lamoni, IA this weekend for the farb fest (aka "party"), but it looks like I will have to stay home. However, my brother is flying in from LA tonight and then we're going out for drinks. Should be fun! That is, if he doesn't miss his flight... I hear it is easy to miss ones flight in LA.

Also I really wish I hadn't miss out on the dance in Iowa City last weekend. Check out the video with the Gilded Bats playing! I hope I can make it out for their next dance, though!

Gilded Bats play the Iowa City Barn Dance



Also, I found this song ("Take me down in the night") I had downloaded to my mp3 player awhile back and just found it. I can't stop putting it on repeat. I know, I'm bad like that. :)

week's end

Oh wow! It's already Friday! I've been rushing around the last few days so I'm kind of pooped. Last night I threw a party for my friend who is getting hitched next month. There is a reason I don't throw parties anymore. It's a lot of work. And it's not as if I give these grand parties either. I usually try to make them as laid back as possible. Yesterday afternoon I also got with the bride to alter her wedding gown, had a hard time figuring out the bustle (it's been awhile since I've done this and every gown is different) so I had about 20 minutes to throw together something for her and I to eat before the others arrived. I made that Farfalle with Zucchini that I blogged about a few days ago, only instead of adding the cream I decided to grab a jar of marinara sauce. Yum. It was really good. I must admit. :)


{i forgot to take pictures during the evening, so dirty plates and bad lighting will have to suffice.}

Dessert consisted of a chocolate jelly roll filled with coffee ice cream, drizzled on top with fudge sauce and strawberries. I set out some Jarlsberg cheese, crackers, dark chocolate and sliced peaches before we started on the dessert. I admit, I kinda like throwing these parties because it gives me an excuse to make some of the things I never would make otherwise. Besides, how often would I go to the store and pick up Jarlsberg? Like never. And it's like...so tasty.


{annie, stop taking bad pictures of me! seriously.}

Well, I'm going to have to end with this picture because I'm too out of it to think of anything else to write. Even though I've been up for a couple of hours and I've already had my coffee plus a good breakfast (which never happens), I still feel like I've been hit by a train. Well I better get off this thing. Gotta get some work done before I head out for lunch. Have a great weekend!

edit: Oh man! I forgot to mention the day before yesterday was Ginger Rogers' birthday! Not that she is alive or anything, but still...it's GINGER ROGERS! I celebrated by watching Carefree. Anyway, just had to say that. :)

you know me, random

{yeah, that skirt again.}

So I should be in bed right now because I'm tired, but I'm here blogging instead. Go figure. Had a lovely time in St. Louis this past weekend for the 4th of July. Lots of activities and got to see some great friends again. I'm starting to get pretty good at driving down that way. It was also a much needed break and although I was exhausted by the time I got home, it was more of a mental break than a physical one. :) There are times when you just need to detach yourself from work and your everyday surroundings. It was nice. Pictures to come shortly.

This morning I had an overflowing amount of creativeness in my head. I think it was due to the coffee. I tend to get this super creative kick in the morning when I have my coffee. Too bad it only lasts a couple hours before I'm tired all over again. Probably need more sleep/exercise. Got some ideas up my sleeve, but we'll see if I carry them through. hmmm


{in mount vernon with annie}

Early this evening I went out with my friend Annie to the Lincoln Cafe which is about 15 minutes down the road from me. Absolutely fabulous. My favorite place to eat, hands down. They have a wine bar down the street and you can either purchase a bottle or a glass to bring over to the restaurant. Or bring your own bottle, but there is a corking fee. And their homemade fries are to DIE for. To Die. But I imagine they are terribly bad for you too. But who cares, they are amazing!


{summer braids}

Tried out a summery hairdo today. And I rather like it. I braided my hair when it was still a little damp so when I took it out I had nice wavy hair in the front. I ended up pinning it back and looks great that way as well. If you don't take a shower daily you could probably braid your hair in the morning and leave it there until the next day, take it out and you have wavy hairs. Cool! This is my attempt at combating the humid weather which turns my hair into massive amounts of flip, in places I hate to flip. hah. Also going without shampoo and using only conditioner. Still experimenting with that. I've been reading about a baking soda wash which sounds interesting. Might have to try that. I used a baking soda face-wash for awhile last year and it worked great. I will probably update on the no-shampoo front later on.

While in Mount Vernon I stopped by my favorite organic food store and picked up a bottle of almond oil. I know I needed it for something or other but can't for the life of me remember what it was. Oh, well. Now I have 8 oz of almond oil. I'm thinking of making more homemade beauty products because I'm all into that natural thing and I kinda like to know what I'm putting on my body. :)

Ho hum. I guess it's late and I've rambled on long enough.

{edit: fixed 'summery hairdo' link.}

as the rain pours

Don't you think this would make a lovely nightgown? Of course I am the type of person who wears old t-shirts and flannel pants to bed, but the thought of a pretty eyelet cotton tunic for sleep wear is quite appealing.

It is raining cats and dogs outside. I'm sitting here thinking of warm weather and listening to this lovely soothing music.

Drinking cold coffee left over from this morning. Deelish. I think I ground the coffee a little too fine today as there is quite a bit of grounds left at the bottom of my cup. But I don't mind. Oh sludge how I love thee. :)

good morning::full of links

I cannot sleep, so here I am at nearly one in the morn. It's not often I am unable to get to sleep, because I always seem to be tired. Nonetheless, it gives me a moment to write on this here blog.

::I feel like being random tonight, so that is what you're going to get::

I used to make cinnamon rolls for the local farmer's market and I had the best recipe ever from my aunt Susan. I am telling you, they're to die for. I'm craving some of those rolls right now. Maybe I will make a batch before the week is over. If I do, I will post the recipe. In the meantime, look at these lovelies from port2port (which is the reason I am craving cinnamon rolls at this time of the night).

I'm quite behind on the "This is..." game. I owe you all a picture of "My creation" and "My demon." Instead of a picture at the moment, which I hope I will be able to post soon, I will tell you what they are instead.

Creation: As I am a seamstress, I love to create clothing. Whether historical or clothing to wear every day, it gives me so much joy when I can take a piece of fabric and form it into something beautiful.

Demon: I had a hard time with this, but as it's a fun game I will choose a kind of silly one. I like to change my mind a lot where hair is concerned. I'm growing it out. No, I'm cutting it. Growing it out. Cutting. Growing. Cutting. ahhhhhh. I hate my hairstyle! So I guess you might say the fact that I always seem to cut it when I tell people I'm going to grow it out, is that little demon in me. That little guy who says "Cut it, Anna. You KNOW you want to..." Ah, well. I guess I have a weakness for different and new hairstyles. My hair needs to grow faster if it wants to catch up with my mood swings.

And if you guessed that I got my hair cut today, you would be correct. And it's short. And I really like it. I think I found a cool place to get my hair cut. Finally. You are right when you say you pay for quality. But that doesn't bother me, as long as I know I am getting the quality. Take a peek at Buzz Salon. They're pretty great. And I think I'll be going back...eventually. After I grow my hair out... :)

::This sounds absolutely delightful.:: {via not martha}

I want to design pretty summer dresses. And so I really must find the time to do it. Yes. I must.

My 1930s trousers are nearing the finish line. Had to make a few adjustments. But not much. I'm also thinking of adding detachable braces. But we'll see on that. I just want to finish the basic trousers first and see how I like them. Next pair in linen.

The other day I stopped at the antique store that I love so much and came out with 4 1/2 yards of lovely printed lawn and a bunch of cotton lace. I can't decide what to use the lawn for. Cute blouse or cute dress. blouse? dress? It's a toss up.

Things to look forward to this week? Friday. Because I haven't planned a single thing. I have no appointments. No one to meet up with. Just Friday all to myself. Of course that will probably change and I will agree to hang out with friends. But what would really be nice on Friday is one of those feel-good movie, a bowl of popcorn, glass of wine, some knitting and the house to myself. That sounds splendid. We'll see what Friday brings. In the meantime, I had better try to fall asleep, because I have a lot of work to catch up to tomorrow. That means waking up and getting started bright and early.

::Forgot to mention. My friend and I went on a little jaunt today. Snapped a few pictures on some random train tracks. A good day.