playing catchup

So that was an unexpected two+ week hiatus.
Things got a little crazy for a while I suppose. 

I was in a bit of a slump but I think I'm back to normal. 

Here's a quick recap according to Instagram: 

 I spent a week in Woodinville dog/housesitting for my parents. 

I took the cats with me...which no one seemed to appreciate. 

Note to self: do not try to make the dog and the cats be friends. 

While I was housesitting I caught up on all of Downton's third season 

in two nights. I had a fire in the fireplace. It was pretty cozy. 

I also purchased a new couch with my tax return while watching. 

What can I say, I am a multi-tasker. It arrives in a few weeks! 

I made Smitten's blood orange margaritas when I got home. 

Also her raspberry scones (again!) the following day. 

 I watched the Oscars with friends 

while enjoying champagne and pomegranate juice. 

Then skip ahead to this past weekend... 

The view from Gasworks with Karmen on Saturday, 

the lemon cupcakes we made that afternoon, 

and my new Craigslisted coffee table to match my new couch. 

 And then there were cats. 

Lots of cat photos in the last couple weeks. 

Joe has been gone a lot and I have been doing 

lots of work and homework, which they are always around for. 

So that's a recap.

Big news! 

I wrote three papers today. 

It just so happens they were the last 

three papers in my masters degree program. 

So...I'm done! 

Let's try that again... 

I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

last week

A little update on recent events: 

Last Monday I finally made it over to see Kate's house they bought. 

We walked around their (huge) property and saw lots of frozen things. 

Then we made gnocci (Smitten Kitchen recipe!) 

and hung out with Merle the cat who is a total sweetie. 

It was nice to catch up! I don't see her enough. 

On Tuesday Joe and I got Thai food and watched a movie. 

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was sick again. 

That is my favorite date when I'm sick. 

Then the sickness went from bad to worse.  

I left work early Thursday and stayed home Friday. 

I slept for 13 hours that night. 

It was glorious. 

Except for feeling like crap. 

I spent lots of time on the couch with the kitties. 

Dean even held my hand. 

I went on a little trip this weekend with some other sickos. 

That shall be my next post. 

Happy to report I am on the mend and back at work! 

recap and updates

Here's a little recap of what's been happening around here: 

 

Cat naps, mushroom lasagna from one of my newest cookbooks, 

pretty sunsets, whole wheat sourdough pancakes with huckleberries. 

Bowling with coworkers, Husky basketball, 

the Amazon holiday party (food, drinks, live music, gambling for charity). 

Lots of couch time with the kittehs. 

Overall I'd call it a good week and weekend. 

Other things that are new: 

Joe and I have been dating for six months! 

I am sick. Again. 

Somehow I've developed a gnarly cough. 

I do not believe this is related to my bout with mono in the fall. 

I have recently become obsessed with reading the newspaper. 

Which is why I haven't graded anything this weekend. 

Ok let's be real, I wouldn't have graded anything anyway. 

At least I got my homework done that was due last night. 

I think that is all. Thanks for stopping by. 

week at-a-glance

Here's a little review of my week/weekend:

1. On Monday my little sister came over and we made 

and decorated sugar cookies while watching Matilda. 

2. Trivia night at the Beveridge Pub in West Seattle. 

3. I started scrapbooking again! More on that later. 

4. My drive home on Friday. Sunshine for days! 

 1. Dean being handsome. 

2. and 3. LOTR, crafts and yummy 

snacks/drinks with two of my besties. 

4. Sunset after a Sunday full of football. 

*not pictured: Polish food on Friday for the second week in a row 

Joe made this amazing breakfast this morning. 

The vegetarian sausages were my idea and he did not eat any. 

And I got crap for it all day long. 

But it was delicious and therefore worth it! 

The weekend went really fast and I am not ready 

to go back to work tomorrow! 

Lots of fun things happening this week, though :) 

I hope you all had a lovely weekend. 

T-day Weekend Recap

 Um...how the hell is it Monday already? 

So much for Thanksgiving break. 

My days off work were jam. packed. 

This year I got to cook some items for T-day dinner. 

I made sourdough leek stuffing and 

green bean bundles from Vegetarian Times. 

I also made a cranberry sauce with orange 

and maple syrup from a new cookbook I got. 

I also ate the entire plate of food pictured above. 

SO. GOOD. 

 I also got to spend some time with my parents and these puppies. 

Friday was Joe's birthday so I made a cake. 

We watched football with his friends and he made everyone lasagna. 

We went out to the bars but we all gave up by 10:30 and went home. 

We are old now. 

Saturday Joe and I had lunch with my parents 

and my aunt and uncle in West Seattle, 

then I played games all afternoon with Jason, Kelly, Lauren and Dan. 

Oh and then the day continued with an epic 

Brandi Carlile concert with the symphony. 

Sunday I took Karmen to Theo chocolate factory 

for a grand tour and unlimited samples. 

I was supposed to spend the rest of the day doing homework, 

but then I got the itch to do some holiday decorating 

and spent the evening watching football and eating leftovers at Joe's. 

Tonight I once again delayed my already late homework 

with a trip to the vet and a date at Costco. 

I am so behind and so tired. 

But at least I had fun... right?

Oh, and I accomplished a whopping one thing on my list, 
which was having fun with friends and family.
Although I only need one more item on my 28 before 29 list!

life update

I had about a month-long absence, 

so I figured I'd do a brief life update. 

Confessions: 

I used my SLR yesterday for the first time in weeks. 

I opened Photoshop today for the first time in...a month? 

Instagram is the only documentation I have of life. 

I tried to organize my life into themes: 

Theme #1: On the go. 

Commuting blows. 

Fortunately I get an occasional cool sky to mix it up. 

Theme #2: Halloween. 

I did some Halloween baking this year, 

including Jack-o-lantern Tartlets and caramel apples from scratch. 

I had friends over to carve pumpkins 

and I dressed as a Lumberjack at work. 

On Halloween night Joe and I watched a scary movie... 

Batman. The one with the joker. Definitely the scariest I could handle! 

Theme #3: Cats. 

Duh. They are so cuuuuuute! 

Theme #4: Dates. 

Everything from homemade dinners to Burgermaster. 

From a giant family style Taiwanese dinner to traditional Polish fare. 

I realize it looks like all we do is eat. 

That is just the only time I think to take photos. 

It is a common sickness, taking photos of one's food. 

I am guilty as charged. 

 Theme #5: Kiddos. 

Grading papers for my 8th graders, 

crafting with my 9 year old Little, 

holding a four-month old, 

and drawings from a 6th grade badminton player. 

I'm sure I missed things, but that will have to do. 

There is always so much to catch up on and I am always so far behind! 

weekend snapshots

This weekend was JAM. PACKED. 

Here are my instagram photos from those two days: 

Good morning, sleepy kitties! 

Cocktails and vegan Chinese food for lunch at Bamboo Garden. 

Ride the Ducks with Kate and Lauren. 

Time for a little catnap... 

Time to wake up! Coffee with a little whiskey. 

Opening night of Madama Butterfly at the opera with Barb. 

Vegan chicken fried steak at Georgetown Liquor Company with Alex and Kara. 

Beverages at Emerald Downs for Brad's birthday. 

And then I had to spend four hours writing a paper. 

The end. 

Pet Bed DIY

My kitties should only be getting coal for Christmas this year, 

but they would just make more of a mess batting that around. 

So I decided to make them some little beds, instead. 

They love them! Here are the instructions in case you want to try it too: 

I found some feather bed samples for only $5 each 

at the Pacific Coast Outlet in SODO, so if you're in Seattle 

I recommend dropping in. They are the perfect size for a cat or small dog. 

If you don't have access to these you could easily use a pillow. 

 Materials: 

sewing machine and thread 

good scissors 

measuring tape

pillow or feather bed sample 

soft fabric (I used an old fleece blanket from IKEA) 

trimmings (I used pompom fringe, wool felt, and embroidery thread) 

 Step 1: Measure the dimensions of your bed base 

(mine was 2"x16"x22"). Add one inch to each measurement 

when cutting your pieces to allow for a 1/2" seam allowance. 

(Notice Bobby already approves of my fabric choice). 

Step 2: Cut your pieces, remembering to add the extra inch (for example, 

the top piece of my bed was 22"x16" so I cut my piece to be 23"x17"). 

I made the bottom pieces overlap so that I could 

easily remove the cover for washing. I used my kitchen table 

to help with right angles and straight edges. 

As shown in the photo, you need: top piece, two long side pieces, 

two short side pieces, two bottom pieces that overlap by a few inches.  

Step 3: Pin the side pieces to the top piece. 

If you are using a trim, sandwich it in between the layers as you pin. 

 Step 4: Sew all of the edge pieces to the top piece. 

Then sew the edge pieces together. 

 Step 5: Make sure your trim is securely in place and 

resew edges if necessary. If you want to decorate the top, now is the time. 

I made a paper pattern and used it to cut my heart shape out of wool felt. 

Then I stitched it on the top of the bed using embroidery thread. 

Step 6: Fold over one long edge of each of your two overlapping 

bottom pieces and sew, as shown in the above photo.

 Step 7: Pin the bottom pieces to the edge pieces and sew. 

  Step 8: Now you have your completed cover! 

Thanks to the overlapping bottom pieces, 

it is easy to shove your bed base inside. 

 And voila! A comfy pet bed.