it's not easy being green

This weekend Nathan and I met his parents over at his grandad’s house. Marv (Natedogg’s dad, for those who don’t know) was asking me about my job. What a typical day looks like, that sort of thing. The things that I actually do at my job are pretty boring, but I’m trying to focus on the positive these days. Trying. ;) Anyway, he asked if I had a cool cubicle. I had to laugh. As cubicles go, I guess, mine is actually pretty nice! He asked if I had any live plants, and again, I had to laugh. The cube farm is not a healthy place for any living thing, and my black thumb would not exactly bring life to the workplace. But I was looking on the Craft zine blog this morning, and they linked to this badass needle felted terrarium by Tiny Apartment Crafts that had been posted to their flickr pool. This is more my speed. I could do succulents, for sure, and I can totally handle crafts. I sort of wish that she sold them, because, let’s face it, do I really have time to take up another crafty hobby? (I do not.) But this is so damn cute, and I have about a million wool sweaters in the craft closet at home that are ready to be felted and fulfill their crafty destiny. I may have to lady up and take on a new skill.


In the meantime, I brought a small bud vase to work this morning. I figure for the time being I can bring a tiny bit of life to my cube that way.

....in bed.

It's late but I felt the need to get a blog in before bed.



I save fortune cookie fortunes. (You probably already know that.) I was looking for a higher resolution file of this picture here so that I could print it out for a project, and in my search ran across the one above. I dig this one too. I had this idea one time (idea-stealers of the interwebs, stop reading now please) to do a series of drawings, depicting whatever the fortune cookie talks about, but it happening (wait for it) in bed. Like, for this fortune, it'd be something like a girl with her surfboard surfing the waves of her comforter. I'm not sure that this idea translates as well verbally as I think it would visually. Also, it's after midnight, so if this post doesn't make sense there could be a number of reasons. Anyway. I tried to make my own fortune cookies one time. They didn't work out too well, but maybe it's because I wasn't using this recipe from Craft zine- I think may try again.


:

I might make some for Jared.



Can you imagine opening your fortune cookie and getting this fortune?!?! This picture cracked my shit up.

all pics are from weheartit. i'm too lazy to link tonight, i'm tired. goodnight friend, and goodnight world. see you tomorrow.

love, hampton

Sight for Sore Eyes

I've been in desperate need of a new pair of glasses for quite some time now. My vision isn't to bad, but I have noticed that it is slowly getting worse & I certainly don't wear my glasses as much as I should. Tonight, I stumbled across Warby Parker via Making It Lovely & For Me, For You, & instantly got excited to get a new pair!

Sinclair

Owen

Crosby
I may be bias to these because of the name alone, crossing my fingers they are the ones!

They have this great program where you can pick 5 different pairs and have them sent to you for free (free shipping as well, whoa) to try on. What a great idea! The excitement to make an eye doctor appointment is overwhelming, ha! now I just need to get Pete on board. The other great part is all their glasses are $95 bucks. Yes ma'am, that includes your prescription too. That was one of the reasons I've been waiting on getting a new pair. A decent pair of specks can really reach deep in the pockets, even with insurance, but I can definitely do $95 bucks.

Once I get my try-on's I'll post pictures so you can help me pick a pair!

bekah xo



ps. the Penguins lost again, ugh! I couldn't bare to start another post that way.

Happy UnBirthday!

Once again I have to start another post with yet another Penguins lost. Really guys?! This one was more disappointing because they tied it up with under a minute left to go, and then lose it in the final 4 seconds of overtime. I'm sure they're more upset about it than me, but still! When will Crosby come back?! I miss him so!

I know I'm a little early on this, but I figure I should start now so maybe, JUST MAYBE, I could actually accomplish what I plan on doing. Besides March 17th being your birthday, it is also St. Patrick's Day. Did you know that?! Haha, I still remember that St. Patrick's Day that we went to On The Border (mmmm) and we called that Matt guy, remember that?! Good times for sure!

My plan for St. Patrick's Day (besides celebrating your birthday, of course) is to mail out cards to all of our friends and family. I never got the chance to send out Christmas cards this past year, and that made me sad. By the time I realized I didn't send them it was the middle of January, talk about #fail. I think it would be a nice surprise to all the people we think are cool in our lives. I'm pretty damn sure that I've never received a St. Patty's Day card, so I'm guessing that there is a good percentage of people out there like me. I found some pretty bad ass ones on Esty, and if funding allows I may just indulge.

mjayelle

LeMotPaperie

seasonaldelights

artnoose

So, keep an eye on your mailbox!

bekah xo

"A Clever Title"

I'm alittle errked about the Penguins loss tonight. They played so well and still couldn't get anything to show for it. Hockey is hard on the emotions boss!

Anyhoo, I was looking through alot of my bookmarks and I realized that so many of them are recipes. I've pretty much got enough to bake/cook something new for a whole year. That is definitely not a project I want to take on, but damn Bek, could I at least narrow it down?! All in due time I suppose.

I know I mentioned to you that Pete & I were looking forward to moving, but we have decided to go another route. I'm alittle bummed but overall it will be better in the long run I think. One day I will have my very own washer & dryer! So in the meantime I will continue to collect pretty pictures of homes I love and if I had all the money in the world, I would recreate.
Those ceilings are unreal. I'd love to wake up in that bedroom with all that light, although I would choose different bedding. (nothing can be perfect!)

I do love a good kitchen. This picture makes me want have 4 kids and have them all sitting here while I make them eggs before school. Of course, along with toast made from the bread I baked fresh that morning. I know that sounds crazy, but I'm kinda crossing my fingers.

I really like see thru cabinets. Not even sure that is the correct name for them, but I like them none the less. Pete doesn't, but let's face it, when it comes to the kitchen I doubt he'll get much say.


bekah xo

and we already know how it will end...

Your (Bekah's) music post a few weeks ago got me to thinking (and that's pretty much never good). Here's the thing- I think we still have pretty similar taste in music- we just don't talk about it as often, because we both just got busy with life for a while there, and when we do talk, we have so many other things to talk about!

I bought concert tickets tonight for the Devotchka show coming to the Granada Theater here in Dallas. Telegraph Canyon is opening for them, and I'm pretty excited about that too. They are a local band (from funkytown actually) and they have an Arcade Fire-esque thing going. Do you know the band Devotchka? They are weird, but in a fun way. Have you ever seen Little Miss Sunshine? If you haven't, get Pete to download it  acquire it legally asap! I actually still have Jared's DVD of it from when we were roomies. Anyway, most of the songs on the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack are by Devotchka, and this one called "How it Ends" plays in the background of this one joyous crazy scene towards of the movie. Aww man, it's great. Listen:




This one is really good too, but it is OMG SO SAD. It's a love song for his dead wife. I am not sure if it is an actual dead wife or (hopefully) a fictional dead wife, but either way, the song is fantastic if you can turn of your heart for a few minutes. Luckily, my computer is going on 8 years old now and the video card doesn't get along so well with youtube... so i only see every third or fourth frame of the video, and I can listen to this tragically beautiful love song while without really seeing a funeral happening.



I'm super excited for this show. I haven't really found consistent concert buddies (at least not ones that consistently want to go to the same shows that I do) around these parts since you moved, but I have a couple of lovely ladies in ATX that I think would be willing to play the part if the boy and I end up down there in a few years (fingers crossed!!)

Anyway, listen and enjoy!!

xo
hampton

Tiramisu Cupakes

I really should be studying! I have so much do, so what do I do? I jump on my computer, fully knowing I will probably get caught up in the blogging world. I was slipping there for a bit, but I am back on track now. Then it's off to getting stuff done, and most importantly studying. I swear.

My manager Juanita is coming back to our counter this week and since I am excited about that & her birthday is in February, I'm celebrating by making her some cupcakes! Not only is she the best secret santa-er, she also always tells it how it is, & I appreciate that. "Bek, these cupcakes are good but a little dry." Ha! I know that seems alittle under handed but it's good when people are honest, it only makes us better, right? We have had many conversations about desserts & I know how she likes tiramisu (probably just as much as me), so you guessed it! I'm gonna make her tiramisu cupcakes.

What I like about this recipe, and blog post for that matter, is that there are great pictures for instructions & it calls for box cake mix. I know, I know, but I am no elitist when it comes to baking so if I find a good recipe, I'm gonna go with it. Besides, I'm going to be making these bad boys at like 11pm on Friday night, I need a time saver. They look amazing, & I'm super excited to make them for her. I'll let you know how it turns out.

xo bekah

random radness

I feel like I've been slacking a little on the blog, but jeez I'm tired! Nathan and I went down to Austin this weekend and the trip was lovely, but I'm still in a state of recovery, adjusting to being back in the real world. I need to step up my blogging game though, so here are a few quick fun things.



Nathan's dad gave us a Dremel (for no particular reason, other than because Dremels are awesome, and Marv is awesome, and he heard me say that I needed to give back the one I'd been borrowing from my dad). This looks like a fun inaugural project, right? This plate carving (is that what you'd call that?) is by CJ O'Neil, an artist from the UK.



Or maybe I should start on something like this silhouette from icklebird on etsy. It looks a little more forgiving for my skill level.



Also, while we are spending time on etsy, I really like these earrings. These birds are very Charley Harper-esque. Charley Harper the illustrator, not Charlie Harper the character on Two and a Half Men (who, let's face it, is really just Charlie Sheen playing himself).

And with that, I bid you goodnight, internet!

xoxo
hampton

Keep Calm & Carry On

Happy Valentine's Day! No matter if you think it's just a "Hallmark" holiday, it is nice to spend it with the people you love. I hope you got a chances to let them know that! Pete got me two new NHL tee's from the NHL Store, & in my mind it's way better than flowers! He got Taco Bell because that was what he wanted. Easy enough!

If I didn't get my new shirts I would've totally gone for these prints from Keep Calm Gallery. I could seriously design (I use the term loosely, because I don't know the first thing about room design) a whole room around some of these lovely sayings. We have alot of pictures around our apartment but I think nice prints just make it that much more homey-er.

Make Lemonade! I could see this in my kitchen, hanging right above a bowl full of lemons in the summer time.
Rise & Shine! This is the one that made me really want to re-do our bedroom (or just do it in general, ha!) I love yellow and Pete actually does to, so I might be on to something here!
Breakfast in Bed! I didn't think of a place I would want to put this one, but it made me smile because it is something my Grandma B would say.
Meal Without Wine! This would be the perfect gift for my sister in law. She is re-doing her kitchen and she loves her wine! I think this is a must have.
I love clever stationary & I don't use it as often as I should. But maybe if I had these cards I would! This jumbo pack is such a good idea, everything in moderation.


xo bekah

I Love the Internet,

Since the Penguins are stinking it up tonight, I decided to catch up on some of my blogs. I checked out Tyler Conium's podcast, and learned about March 14th, the "Valentine's Day for Men" where grilling steaks & bj's are expected. Ha! Fair enough. And then I spent some time browsing one of my favorite bloggers, Lake Jane. I am amazed because she always seems to find the coolest stuff on the internet (at least to me anyhow). Plus! She is Canadian & lives in Montreal (which I have a secret fascination with learning french & moving there.) So it's a win win all around. Here are some of my favorite blips...



How gorgeous is this upcycled doily lamp?! It makes me want to take some of my Grandma B's doilies & make one.

Being the baker that I am, I would totally take this tea towel, frame it, and hang it in my kitchen.

Doily lamps, conversion tea towels, & March 14th (the man's valentine's day, bj's & steaks), who knew! I love the internet.

xo bekah

Valentine's Day Cookies

Every Christmas I make cookies for my family members for a couple of different reasons.

a. I like to bake.
b. Everyone seems to get a kick out of it.
c. It is a budget conscience way for me to give gifts to the people I love.

Unfortunately, my sister's batch got lost in the mail, & she didn't get them until a month after Christmas. In the post office's defense, my sister at the time didn't have a mail box, and so they had no way to leave her the cookies. So, I was kind of bummed that my nephews didn't get their Christmas cookies, so to make up for it, I am sending them Valentine's Day cookies! I figure its fair, and when you're just a kid Valentine's Day actually means something.

I saw these super cute Valentine stickers on Design Sponge, which gave me the inspiration to do something for my nephews. If I knew that the fruit wouldn't get tossed around among my nephews, I would send it, but I think for kids under the age of 15, cookies would suit them better. That doesn't mean you can't do it though! (you like fruit!)

I also owe my folks back home some cookies, so I am gonna get it all done in one shot. Here is my line up ...
Oatmeal Raisin, my Dad's favorite. This recipe is great & always a big hit, but no one is surprise considering where I got the recipe.

Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich cookies, my Mom loves Oreo's so I wanted to try my hand at some homemade ones. She also loves peppermint, so this is a perfect match.

& lastly, April's Ever Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies. You seriously can NOT find a better chocolate chip recipe. Soft & chewy, they're just perfect.

What are you up to for Valentine's Day?!


xo bekah

Red Velvet Success!

I have a secret & since you partially know all of my other secrets I might as well share this one with you. Right?! Right.

While I would like to think of myself as this amazing baker ( & I'm sure in comparison to others I am ) I still feel very amateur. (or at least I think so ha!) Red Velvet is probably one of my all time favorites. I can remember as a kid being so memorized by the red cake, & the sweet & tangy icing! Mmmmm. I have tired several different recipes & some how I ruined them all. The only thing I could get away with was the boxed stuff, and even though I am definitely not an elitist when it comes to baking, it just wasn't satisfying.

In walks Glenda! Glenda is Margaret's (my mom, I know you know that, but for the sake of anyone else that might read this.) ex-husband's wife. Did you follow that?! Anyways, back on track! She gave me her famed Red Velvet recipe. I was alittle nervous to try it because of my past experience with red velvet but I was determined!

BOOM! There you have it. The recipe was flawless (awww) & the cupcakes turned out super light & moist. The red turned out so bright, that I am excited to show these babies off at work tomorrow. I feel accomplished, & ready to take on anything! At least when it comes to baking.

still the greatest birthday gift ever! my cupcake courier, you're the best!

Glenda's Red Velvet Cake

2 1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1/2 cup crisco (I used butter flavor because that's what I had)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
2 bottles of red food coloring
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

In a large bowl (or mixer) cream crisco, sugar, food coloring, eggs, & vanilla. In a separate bowl sift flour, cocoa powder, & salt. Add flour, alternating with buttermilk to creamed mixture. Beat well. In a small bowl, mix vinegar & baking soda. Fold in baking soda vinegar mixture. Bake at 350 for 30 -35 mintutes. (for these cupcakes, I only baked them for 22 minutes & they turned out great.)

more blog love

I also think you should check out the blog  Aunt Peaches. My friend Wendy sent me this link because she thought I'd like the craft tutorials Ms. Peaches posts. And I do. But I also like her style of writing. A lot of times if I'm checking my blog reader and I come across a long-winded post, I'll skip it, but I don't skip hers. My first favorite post of hers was around Christmas time, when she talked about making nativity scenes from old toys. It reminded me of my nativities up on Etsy, but hers has a sweet story behind it, whereas mine was just 'oh that'd be a cool idea... I bet I could sell those!' And then there was this lovely post when she talked about attending a Swiss cow parade, and also included a thematic craft tutorial. It's a lovely narrative, with a crafty payoff at the end.


photo by aunt peaches

Also, she has a cat, and she makes her wear hats. Gunther would never wear hats for me. But then, Gunther was an asshole, so there's that.

Pumpkin & Lidstrom

In keeping with the pumpkin cooking theme, as promised Grandma B & I baked Pumpkin Whoopie Pies for the NHL All-Star Game. They were fun to make, & super tasty! Not overly sweet, a good balance between the spicy pumpkin cookie & sugary cream cheese frosting. I use to be afraid of pumpkin but now I can't get enough. (I have a similar affection towards mustard, but that's another post!) I would recommend that you make these the day of, and maybe this was just me, but they didn't hold up to well the next day. I guess when you make 30 plus pies & only have 4 people over, some aren't going to be consumed. But over all very delicious & I can't wait to try some other recipes!


I kinda like how they ended up looking like burgers. Mmmmm! & I was happy Team Lidstrom won the game. A very lovely Sunday indeed. Next up, my "step-mother" Glenda's Red Velvet Cake for Super Bowl Sunday at Kenny & Liz's. ( I really like them! )

xo bekah

sugar derby!

I have this friend Melissa, and I sort of think you would really love her. (Although having said that in the past about, ahem, other friends... I'm hesitant to make assumptions anymore!) She's super fun, and she's an avid baker who just started a blog. She posts recipes and fun pics of the cool stuff she picks up at estate sales around town. Her blog is called Sugar Derby (adorbz) and youuuuu should go look at it.

Also, she has this cute baking themed tattoo- this pic was featured on Bakerella!


(photo from Bakerella)

How effing cute is that? I know that we both suffer from blog overload, but I think you should add her to your blog reader, stat.

it's the little things

I know that as a makeup artist, this will probably disgust you, but sometimes I just don't feel like washing my face at night. I have the little bag of wipes I keep by my bedside, for extreme cases of laziness, but they don't usually do the best job. I really ought to just get off my ass and wash my face with real cleanser and a real washcloth. But you know what annoys me the most? The way the water drips down my arms and gets on my sleeves and then I'm going to bed with wet pajamas. 9 times out of 10 I'd rather just take a bath, because then the water is warm (and it STAYS warm!) but sometimes that is just too much effort at the end of the day. So I have figured out the perfect solution to avoid the cold, wet, uncomfortable drip:




Don't I look athletic? Ha!

A $3 pair of sports armbands from Walmart. Duh! I drew the arrow to accentuate my teensy flash of brilliance and apparently I just kept drawing and ended up with the tennis racket too. I thought I'd make a joke about how now I am winning the tennis match against zits, but tennis scores don't make a lot of sense, and that joke isn't very funny anyway. Sigh.