Are there Dudes here?

Have I ever told you about the Man Made DIY site? It's full of handy info, cool design stuff, entertaining, fashion, and the like but geared towards people of the gentleman variety.

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I have found some awesome and practical tutorials on there (how to punch a hole in a leather belt, for example).

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He also shares some interesting cooking/baking/entertaining recipes. I would love to try my hand at making this 3D Death Star Cake, and anything made with beer is a-okay in my books! Oh, and his classic cocktail recipes are going to be in rotation at my next party, whenever I'm brave enough to make that happen. And can find some "Angostura bitters"......oh who am I kidding......BFF.....??

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And since this is a site for men (not ladies like me), he posts cute manly awesome how-tos like this one: How To Dress for a Date Like You Know What You're Doing. I know (first hand) the dorky-lady version of this, but it's interesting to see the smart-dude take on it.

Pretty much the whole site reminds me of BFF. He's a walking-talking "Man Made DIY". Common phrases uttered are: "I'm thinking of building my own old-timey radio", "I bought this print online, I just have to make a frame for it with some of the scrap wood I keep in my garage for just such an occasion", and my all-time favourite, "They have that at Lee Valley". Oh BFF...I love you!

later loves

p.s. if there are actually real live DUDES that read my blog, you need to post a comment! What an achievement!

Found!

It's been a while since I did a up little Internet Found! post, but the other day I watched the Simpsons for the first time in a long time, so I thought, "heck, you only live once!"

Oh my, I love this site. Like, adore it. For so many reasons, I just can't express them all. But if I had to just pick one:

"Also, if a person reporting a picture of your nude child (however cute his butt may be) results in shouting the word “BITCH,” you might want to take a look at anger management classes. I’m not sure if there are classes specific to Facebook yet, but there should be."

I have highlighted the lovely sentence there for you. Priceless. Just priceless. I was going to link up specific articles that I enjoy, but they are all comic gold!

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p.s. School starts in TWO DAYS people! I don't know who's less prepared: me or Dude. R is away this week, so I think there will be lots of fast food and naps in my future. And beer...

Also, how the frick is it September already??? Please someone tell me I'm dreaming.

Or at least tell me you've got my birthday and Dude's party all planned out.

I love Carl Sagan

"Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar", every "supreme leader", every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there - on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."

- Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space (1994) Carl Sagan

found on this post.

I told BFF that I would buy more talking computer items if the voice sounded like Carl's

I'm going to see if the library has this book. They have a copy of the Cosmos series, and (just my luck) my time on the super long waiting list came up at a time when I had no time to watch the 13 episodes! Thankfully R is a computer-guy and ripped 11 of them to iTunes! So now I just have to put them on my iPad and I'm set!

Oh Carl...

Who inspires you?

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PSA of the Week

Global Seed Vault

And conspiracy theories about it...oh my!

Also, Lisa remember to look for the movie version of Arthur C. Clarke's 2010: Odyssey Two. Don't forget!

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Have you ever noticed...

that there aren't enough hours in a day, and days in a week to get stuff done? Forget to-do lists, and all that stuff we "have" to do. I'm talking about the fun stuff! The stuff that makes all that other crap stuff worth it!

For example, this is a small smattering of the exciting things happening in Edmonton this weekend.
Capital Ex begins, and includes something deliciously-named Rib Fest. And the parade is on Thursday.
Taste of Edmonton begins, and includes some Food Trucks! And beer!
Race Week concert at Churchill
Freewill Shakespeare Festival wraps up.

And I might even get to go to one or more of these events! Hazah!

What are your plans for the weekend? Anything delicious!?

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Feel Good Links!

10 Reasons I Love Star Wars. It was also thanks to Amy that I started this little Lovely Life series on ye olde Blog. I was inspired by her Summer of Self-Love series that she did a while back. And her name is like my sister's name, so she automatically gets some Lisa-love for that!

The Nearsighted Owl: I Am Proud of My Size

Doctor Who shirts for ladies? Yes please!

Smart phones and dumb users.

Found...News

I have been such an online news junkie lately! I spend lots of my down time at work surfing a variety of sites and blogs and the like. Here are some interesting stories I've found lately...

Does Eating Organic Food Make You Selfish? Funny!

12 Year Old talks Money

"Climate Change Policy" bugs the bee-jeezus out of me. What do these guys hope to get out of all this tomfoolery? I guess they don't care. They make their money now and are dead before the shit hits the fan!

Cyber Spying drives me crazy too! So much so that I wrote to my MP...fat lot of good that did.

Why Elizabeth May is a pretty awesome lady. And why our government sucks the big one.

Vaginas Must be Republican Kryptonite. Right now it seems that every state is trying to (and many succeeding) pass very scaring anti-abortion legislation. Kudos to this gal for standing up for her beliefs!

I like this guy's blog: Friendly Atheist. I think if asked, I would identify as an "sceptic"...

And a video for your viewing pleasure. I watched this Doc Zone the other night, Age of Anxiety, and found it  hit really close to home. I think I'm going to have do up a post about my experience with the medical community and Lucas' anxiety "diagnosis".

I was on a doc-kick that night, and also watched most of this before falling asleep on the couch. I vaguely remember pressing record before I faded out for good. We Were Here is about the start and rise of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco in the early 80s. It follows five people who were involved in the community in one way or another, and is a beautiful and sad picture of this time in our history.

And while this isn't news, it is awesome! A Wil Wheaton plushie! Yes...that is going on a shopping list.

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FOOD!

Nutty Rice Krispies. Oh my...these were so good! And inspired me to make some more with the rest of the Rice Krispies, Chex (cause I didn't have enough Rice Krispies), and loads of chocolate and butterscotch chips. We never have desserts in our house, and now we have too many. Go figure.

Smores...sort of

K, where the hell did this sweet tooth come from? I don't have a sweet tooth, and yet all of a sudden all of my online searches are leading me towards desserts and fruity drinks. Argh!! (and the scale is reflecting this dangerous turn of events...dammit dammit dammit!)

I'm going to balance this out with some real food. Like this sole almondine. Or this meatless ravioli made with wontons. I might have to add meat...and skip the cream sauce. But otherwise...

Ooh! And this chicken stirfry!

Are any of you at all interested in my culinary adventures? I am a terrible cook, so this is more for the other terrible cooks out there. This should be interesting...

Please note...I found none of these recipes on Pinterest. It doesn't mean they're not there...I just haven't checked.

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In a related note, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution looks pretty awesome! I missed the day of Revolution, but I figure this is an ongoing thing that I might like to get in on!

Found...News

I found a bunch of neat articles while I was surfing at work the other day.

Can Beer Save America? Ummm...yes please!

From this site: Alternet. There are a lot of great articles here that get me all riled up! Like flapping my arms and wanting to write to my congressman kind of riled. Please note: I do not have a congressman - or woman - thank goodness, but I am still flapping my arms like a crazy bird!

Noam Chomsky and the Occupy Movement. He wrote a book about it, and his views are very generous and clever and succinct and all the usual.

Birth-Control v. Christian Conservatives. A US-based article, but relevant none-the-less. Relevant, and frightening!

What does JPMorgan do for America? Thank heavens that banks in Canada are way more regulated. Some people may take issue with this, but I would recommend they look to our southern neighbours to see all the major fuck-ups that could happen if they weren't!

Oh...and I found these shoes. It's not news, but it rhymes. (Also these shoes...I have a problem...)

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Found...New Blogs

I'm never never never on the lookout for new blogs to read. I have so so many in my Reader that I don't read, I can't bear the thought of adding more.

Although, maybe it's time to clean out my reader and give it a little spring cleaning and airing out.

Out with the old...these plus more!
A Beautiful Mess
Scissor Quirk
Pioneer Woman
Art Equals Happy
Dottie Angel
Create Loves
Amy Schmamey
Dearest Someday
Paper Sparrow
Gingiber Snap

In with the NEW!
Gypsy in Jasper
As Luck Would Have It
Vanagon Champion
Inspiration Everywhere
I love...
Secondhand Magpie
Andrea Clare
Pretty and Fun
My Beat Boutique

And I am quite pleased with the fact that my outgoing list is much longer than the incoming. And that the incoming blogs are a nice mix of art, scrapbooking, fashion and "lifestyle".

I would love to add more little guys to the list...do you have any blog-read recommendations for me??


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p.s. This post is quite lovely. I'm happy to know that I am not the only Blogger out there who wants to be more real on her blog.

p.p.s A whole post dedicated to Rice Crispy treats...umm....yes please!

Found...Art

I love watercolours. And now I love them even more, after reading this post.

I am also now a big fan of this site.

This looks like a super neat-o magazine! Embrace and celebrate Average!!

Thanks to Nadia for introducing me to this blog. Lots to explore.

Art of food counts right? I really enjoy Emma's blog, and would love to try out some of her recipes. This one has been added to the list. But knowing me I should probably start somewhere simpler.

Happy Mother's Day Peeps! Today I mostly just want to sit outside in my new chair (that hopefully I will have purchased before now), sipping an iced coffee or a strawberry+basil faux-jito and reading a book.

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Sunday Finds

Oh my. The list is a doozy today!

Handmade gorgeous shoes from Bali: ELF

This art is absolutely stunning and breath-taking!

An IKEA hack that doesn't involve carpentry skills? I'm in!!

Learning to draw book series by Peter Jenny.

This hanging succulent garden is quite lovely. This one too! So far I only have one tiny succulent to my name, but it's growing so I feel confident to get some more!

This sign was made for me!

HEY CHANTEL! It's Zentangles in real life!

While it may seem pricey, I would totally spend $7 on an envelope that is also my stationery!! Go Aerogram! How Jane Austen of them! I love their cards and other stuff as well!

This installation is heavenly! And so inspiring! I want to go and make some of my own giant cross-stitch!

Another wood DIY that I can get behind. I have been wanting to make a wooden headboard for some time, and I think this is just the right thing to get me started!

Neon paper in a chalkboard covered notebook. Need I say more?

Thanks to the Poppytalk Handmade blog for all my links today! I spent some time there on Thursday (catching up in Reader) and I had forgotten how much I enjoy their site! You should check it out for yourself!

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Sundays are for Surfing!

Actually, I found most of these links when I was busy (busy busy busy) blog-working last Friday afternoon. Busy. Like, this busy...I had to make a schedule...yep...

Wish I had seen this post before I bought that b-day present. Oh well.

This is way more inspiring than all of Pinterest.

Yes, I would like an alternative to Instagram! Thanks for sharing these!

This place is cool...ice cold. Or just more internet waste-of-space. The jury is still out.

Thanks to my real-life new best friend, NASA IOTD is my new new best friend. Sorry dude...

Wil Wheaton's Tabletop looks like the coolest geekiest thing I have seen in a long time.

I was wandering through my bookmarks as well. I should really clean those out...or use them...hmmm.

Now I am off to be more awesome! And go to the gym!

later loves

Found!

I found myself in the midst of a flurry of Internet activity last Friday...all coming from my own browser! I went from one article to another, reading every comment I could find. Feeling happiness and sorrow and vindication and disbelief and anger at every turn.

I thought I would pass on some links, so you can maybe open your mind a little as well...

Harper's Crime Bill really freaks me out...but this just makes me mad.

I know that I would do anything to stand up for my child. It frightens me to think that not everyone is like that, and in some cases people do everything in their power to take away security our children are supposed to feel in their schools.

Finally, a handy infographic to explain my newly found hate-on for carbs!

I think these Mitt Romney's Out-of-Touch moments are sad, but hilarious! Possibly the best/worst of the bunch is #1, when he tries to explain to people that he's empathetic towards the unemployed because he himself is also unemployed...from the mouth of idiots...and to think that one day this guy might be president.

How OAS might change for the better or worse in the coming years...depending on who you ask (don't ask me!)

Are you confused by your taxes? Me too...I can't imagine having to deal with this tax system.

I love Infographics! On buying local. On where to put gov't spending.

And this one, which is quirky and inspiring and vintage and modern. Wonderful! Cabinet Card Superheroes. (you can also try this link, which wasn't working the other day)

And I love this "look book" from Anthropologie! Mixing photos with videos is pretty sweet in my books!

Local Finds

I have noticed my Found! scheduled posts are growing in number, especially in the "local" category. So I thought I would change my Found! Focus to be more local in flava-flave!

And I want to put it out there that I am accepting "submissions" of other local places and faces that might be of interest to the rest of my Edmonton readers! If you have a favourite little breakfast place, or funky boutique, or art store I want to know about it! Take a photo, write a blurb and pass it along...much obliged I will be.

Thai Valley Grill

I first went there with Russ' family for a birthday dinner back in August, and R & I just got back there on Tuesday for a little Date Night.

They are only open in the evenings, and never on Sunday. It is a tiny little hole-in-the-wall of a place, so I would recommend booking a table even if you are in a small party, especially if you are going on a Friday or Saturday night. There were lots of tables still available on Tuesday night, but it was quite full when we went in the summer. They also offer Take-Out, which is a dangerous thought!!

We only ordered two dishes last week. A pork dish with vegetables, called "Something-Something-King". It was #49. We also ordered a Pad Thai, which is kind of standard/boring, but so delicious!

You can choose your spice-level with each dish. Some are naturally hotter than others (some of the curries, for example), but we went with medium and it was just right, but then again, we like spicy stuff!

And you can't go wrong with the coconut rice! But make sure you order enough. One order is only a small bowl. We were lucky that the Pad Thai comes with noodles. I would recommend ordering one bowl of rice per person/per dish.

Pricing was about $16-$17 per dish. The rice is $3.50 per order. They offer loads of (Thai) beer and wine, but we stuck to water. Our bill was around $40. They do have a little note posted on the door stating their prices are going up...

I highly recommend this place for its food, atmosphere, pricing, and local flare!

Wow...that was almost like a real restaurant review! Maybe I've got some more up my sleeves! Remember to get me some recommendations...I'm going to check out the couple of Edmonton food blogs that I am aware of, and see what I can try next!

Found!

This video just about made my Friday. I love this song, and I love what this group has done with it! Watch!! You won't be disappointed!

p.s. Creating art everyday means I am going to start posting to her "Art Journal Everyday" series. Here's a link to her first post of the year. Can you spot my link?

Found! Geek

I am a big fan of Doctor Who. Like, I would count this series (and it's "spin off" Torchwood) one of my most favourite tv series of all time!

So when I found this wiki site, I was beside myself!

Tardis Index

KC...this one is for you...Happy Birthday!!

Found! Some Blogs

This is an old post that I came across the other day. It had a different list of blogs when I first opened it, but some had dud-links. So I spruced it up a bit, added some other links, and here we have some lifestyle blogs to check out on this Monday Morning...

Run With Scissors...she has some really neat doodly journals and cute inspiration

Vol. 25...she has a super awesome Etsy shop as well

Little Chief Honeybee. She had a really great post up about staying true to your blogging self, but it looks like she pulled it...too bad! She has a sweet post up right now, offering up a chance to win a slick record player! Add that to my birthday wish list!!

Kyla Roma...Daydreams From a Handmaid Prairie Life. She's from Winnipeg! And so cute!!

And some specific posts...
this post from Pixies and Bears is so full of eye-candy!

I have been adding (and removing) blogs from Google Reader (and to a lesser extent Blog lovin') like crazy lately. There are just so many good blogs out there! I try to find bloggers that are new or have small followings to support. Those big named ones are fun too, but it's nice to see what the little guy is up to now and again!

    If you have any favourite blogs I would love to hear about them!    

Found! Local Artist

I spoke (albeit briefly) with this artist at the St. Albert Farmer's Market a week or so ago. She was a special gal, and I am in love with her art! Her name is Kaytlyne, and she was born and raised in Morinville. Her artist statement really spoke to me, and I consider myself an immediate fan and groupie. I love the idea of supporting local artists and artisans, and I think with more support from people at home, these individuals can truly make a name for themselves in the world outside as well!

Here is just a sampling of her beautiful work, and some of my favourites!!

You can find her work for sale on her Big Cartel site: Shakespeare, Big Ben, Elephant. And her Facebook page shares all of her current work. She uses fabric in an inventive way, and her images are so full of life and colour in spite of being in black & white. As most things in art, they are so much more amazing in person...I recommend you get out to see her if you can. She will be at Art in The Park on September 17th, and the Make It Show in November.

glitter textures from Pugly Pixel

Found! Found! Found!!!

While in the States, we hit up some fabulously independent unique Triple D locations, which left me jonesing for more of the same once we got home. But if any of you are at all familiar with Mill Woods you will understand it when I say there is nothing in our neck of the woods to eat that is special or unique in any way. It was by some cosmic bumping of the multiverse that I found myself having an enlightening conversation with Laurie about the lack of flair in Mill Woods dining and the options I could find laying elsewhere in our fair city.

So I told Russel and he did some googling.

But it wasn't enough...and here is what I found this morning (and by this morning, I mean approximately 2 weeks before today, when I started writing this post).

Only Here for the Food. A fabulous Edmonton food blogger. She shares info on great local restaurants, food festivals and mobile eateries. I really love her take on the Taste of Edmonton.

And speaking of mobile eateries...
Nomad
Drift Mobile Eatery
Filistix
Molly's Eats
And I know there are more out there, and I'm totally going to find them!!
I am going to try and get to Drifttruck this morning (it's Thursday where I am) and I am quite excited!

Also on my plate "this morning"...learning about the possibility that Earth might have once had a second moon that crashed into our current moon, accounting for the rocky terrain on the "dark side of the moon." Very cool article here. This is why I tolerate Twitter.

**UPDATED: I totally got a Drift Food Truck sandwich for lunch that day, and it was so good!! Pork with daikon and deliciousness. And the fries were so good, and the cookie was heavenly! I'm going to try and get there more often! Russ, the Dude & I tried Molly's Eats at the St. Albert Farmer's Market on the 13th. R & I got a bacon & briskett grilled cheese sammie, which was sort of to-die-for. Lucas got a green onion cake, which has got to be his second favourite food in the world!