tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203456812024-03-13T22:29:52.112-07:00My Brain PurgeA crazy girl, a sewing machine and lots of paintJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-3752109618998694832016-07-07T10:43:00.000-07:002016-07-07T10:43:07.037-07:00<br />
You guys: I moved into the most fabulous house EVER. Like.. ever ever. Its pretty much my gray gardens future. Like I cannot believe I live here. Like.. I knew the previous people who lived here before me and used to lust over their house and now I actually live here. <br />
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I have a garden in the back. Like an actual garden. Its growing peppers and mint and hibiscus and other tropical goodness. Surrounding my house are green houses. I have a side porch. Along that side porch grows rasberries, blackberries, different variations of ginger flowers. It has a gold calwfoot bathtub, SUN PORCH and a huge front porch. It has 4 bedrooms! Original molding.. Its so incredibly beautiful and the fact that I got it at the price I did because my landlord has owned it since the 70s still amazes me. He is also willing to sell it to me at some point. It all feels like a big dream. <br />
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So that's what's been going on in my neck of the woods. EXPECT crafty updates because this place makes my brain start cranking out ideas like its nobody's business.<br />
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For now I am in unpacking hell and judging my own filth (seriously my kitchen appliances? um.. side eye to myself) and have a few projects on my list. Will update soon!<br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-38233410741816021042015-08-21T10:03:00.001-07:002015-08-21T10:46:13.895-07:00Fuck That Shit So my life sort of fell apart.<br />
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Maybe it was all just a normal emotional regression so to speak, that every mom goes through when her daughter hits that dreaded "age." Sometimes it feels like being in an abusive relationship you cannot get out of- that leaves you with Stockholm syndrome and absolutely loving your abuser. The kind of relationship where you try your best to be enough and you never are- and you feel like a pussy for feeling a way about that. Despite knowing that much of this is normal and not unexpected, it still is the hardest thing I have done in my life. My daughter is beautiful, creative and as much of a handful as one could expect MY child to be but so much more ass kicking than I was. I look at her in absolute awe of the fact I raised her. That still doesn't make it easy. This blog has been such a source of comfort to me when I began to feel like I was losing myself which happened often, in trying to navigate a new city and attempting to maneuver through parenting a teenager. When my soul wanted to create but my mind told me to fuck off. My body wanted yoga, but my depression sat on top of my shoulders. When every single person I met I could not connect with. When I dated my share of losers just needed to get a sense of myself again. <br />
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But now I am here. Still feeling dizzy from whirlwind of fuckery that was a recent breakup with someone who I had no business falling for. I thought my shitty breakup days were over. SURPRISE! PSA people, you CAN in fact revert to your early 20s stupidity at ANY age! Even after years of making semi good choices.. After all, I still ADORE the Cutest Boy in Brooklyn and I keep in regular contact with the ex of 7 years and I even have a great friendship with my ex fiance. So when this happened, I stomped around and angrily plotted my return home. "Fuck this place" I said. "I want to go home where people are fucking NORMAL." I said. "I NEED to be somewhere where I can get a fucking everything bagel. Where a disagreement isn't an earth shattering monumental war. I want subways and my coffee cart guy. If I stay here I'm going to be fat, tired and alone. I need to be somewhere where I don't date guys that 6 months in make rape jokes and tell me I need to 'run it by them' before their friends find out I'm bisexual" Then I got a text from my friend Jess (one of 4 Jess's that live near me but my bestie here in NOLA) with a simple "Hey bitch what are you doing?" and those simple words which were really an invitation to go have a ghetto pims cup with one of the most awesome people I know, reminded me that that these past three years in New Orleans haven't been an absolute bust. That I need to stop being an asshole. Lets face it. As much as all of the transplants who are swarming to this city sing the praises of their home cities, most of our home cities aren't even REALLY our home cities anymore. NY has become a shit hole. No offense to my NYC friends, but deep in your native hearts, you know that I am right. I'm just being honest. Most of the natives I know are gone. In fact MANY of them are here. My family is here. Music is here. Jazzfest is here. Mardi Gras is here. NOLA is here and NOLA has always been my other home. The Mississippi River is here. And know what? Even if I WENT back to NY, I'm sure I would realize while schlepping groceries up a 5th floor walk up in a 400sf apartment I would selling my soul (and contemplating selling my asshole) to pay rent for is that what I actually miss more than NYC itself that particular moment in time. I would get there and it would be cold as fuck. It would eventually be February which SUCKS in NY but ROCKS in New Orleans.. Gabby would still be 18. I would still be 38. We would not be making bento boxes together and living out my 20s while she lives out Elementary and middle school. There would be no Lu as my boyfriend. There would be no Tobin. She would still think of me as a shit tard because that is her job. And yes, sure, the kiddo may have got kicked out of the school we moved here for her to be in, then dropped out of the music program we spent a year prepping for. Sure, she may now be graduating in the crazy awful New Orleans public school system. And sure I dated, fell in love with, then got mistreated and then dumped by some dude with a male balding pattern who wouldn't even have BEEN on my radar 5 years ago. BUT I would like to remind myself and share with all of you for future reading purposes and to slap the sideye that you are likely giving me off of your faces that despite this cornucopia of bullshit, in the past three years the following has happened:<br />
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1. I have learned how to drink whiskey. Like really. Not in the drunken hot mess express sort of way. But in the melt the ice cube and experience the caramel flavors sort of way. Hi. Im a grown up.<br />
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2. My ability to control myself and my temper is amazing. Seriously. I should be up for the fucking sainthood. I have been tested more than I could possibly imagine and successfully did not crack someone in the face.<br />
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3. I fell in love. I got hurt. I grew. <br />
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4. I made some AMAZING friends along the way. New Orleans will show you what real friendship is. My friends here have woken up from their beds to attend to emergencies. My friends here have helped me move on hot summer days, sat with me through crying episodes and listened to all of my crazy. In return, I learned how to BE a better friend.<br />
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5. I gained 15 lbs. Everything here is delicious. And fried. And full of gravy and we all drive everywhere.<br />
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6. I became a founding member of an awesome Mardi Gras Krewe that involves dancing to James Brown and my favorite female DJ.<br />
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7. Pims cups<br />
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8. I went from being a floater legal secretary to the lead paralegal. I have my own office. I do semi-important shit now.<br />
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9. I adopted Freedia (aka Big Fre) - the best dong in the universe<br />
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Now, on to the point of this post. So last night after a few drinks with a good friend, the needy ex boy who has been nothing but nasty to me for the past week texted me to ask me when I was coming to get my stuff from his house and to please bring him his ugly orange shorts. THAT gave me pause. In that moment I travelled outside of my body and stood before myself as I sat in the Franklin drinking some watermelon drink of delicious and said "JESSIE. WTF ARE YOU DOING?" Ok so maybe it didnt happen just like that but it sure was close. I did pause and in that moment ask myself why did I date this person to begin with? He made a fucking RAPE joke. He wore orange shorts. He told me I needed to RUN IT BY HIM before telling his friends I was bisexual. Once he even had the fucking NERVE to criticize MY OUTFIT! He once told me once I would <b>look really hot with makeup!!!! </b>He would continually try to sweep my hair to the side and tell me I would look great if I rocked an "executive look". AN EXECUTIVE LOOK! Yes guys. That was my man for 7 months. I have no excuses. Yes he was a good dancer and we had some fun times. YES he had great musical tastes. Yes he spoke Spanish. But still. WTF. So dear reader, I give you full permission to go ahead and deliver that sideye to me yet again because I fucking deserve it. Why was I so drawn to yet someone else besides my teenager who needed me 24/7 365 and gave zero shits about my other responsibilities? And again.. He wanted me to return his ORANGE SHORTS! This text out of nowhere forced me to pause for a moment and realize that I needed to take some time to really WORK on me. Because THIS shit right here? I know better. This particular behavior was an example of going backwards. Like WAY backwards. The past three years I haven't been taking care of myself emotionally. Every ounce of what I had has gone to someone else. My daughter, my family, my job- then for added fun, I go out and pick out a super needy misogynistic boyfriend for 7 months. So of course with that came the depression and the feeling of losing myself. Team that up with being homesick, and it was the ultimate recipe for a prize winning flourless chocolate shit cake. I look at this blog and I'm not even this same person anymore in so many ways. So now at 38, a week after my birthday, I'm saying fuck all that shit. I'm sincerely doing me right now and making some fucking necessary changes- and YOU get to hop in the passenger seat for the <strike>shit show</strike> - ahhem I mean journey with me. Oh and for the record, Steve at Cake Cafe sells a decent everything bagel. With pesto cream cheese. Its not Astoria Bagels but it will definitely do to hold a girl over until her next visit to NY. <br />
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OH PS: Say it with me guys.. I will not chop my hair off or dump read hair dye in it just because I am experiencing a break up. Repeat 10x. <br />
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PPS: WTF is an executive look? <br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-79344300736300573242013-02-25T08:39:00.003-08:002013-02-26T08:46:03.815-08:00My New Obsession- Coconut Butter<br />
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You read that right. Coconut butter. Not cocoa butter. COCONUT. butter... and that picture isn't even Instagrammed, you guys. <br />
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First let me start off by saying, I don’t even LIKE coconut. Gross. The texture… its chewy and it just skeeves me out. But as with most of my obsessions (like my vitamix and my bread maker)one day I was roaming my favorite soap making forum and someone mentioned they make coconut butter and put it on toast. Those ladies always GET ME! Such enablers!!! I paused for a second. Coconut BUTTER? That might be delicious. That might require further investigation. So off to the interwebs I went. I began to read words being thrown around like “can-be-used-as-frosting” (insert Scooby doo sound here) and "sweet" and "creamy" and that was all I needed. After pouring over Youtube videos (god I love modern technology) I saw that it basically was dumping two bags of organic shredded coconut into my vitamix and letting her rip and possibly adding some coconut oil. I can do that. I’ve SO got this! I make soap for god's sake! <br />
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So, In an effort to replace the <strike>gallons-</strike> ahhem... small containers of nutella we have been consuming in my house and my effort to get a tsp of coconut oil in my body a day, I hopped my happy ass to mardi gras zone to see if organic coconut flakes were among the things they were ripping everyone off for (oh Mardi Gras Zone, I love and hate thee all at the same time). I bought two bags at $3.00 each and skipped home feeling extremely clever and ready to make my own coconut butter (which sells for 12-17 bucks a jar) because I’m a crafty, clever, frugal, healthy eater, bitches! <br />
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Well as it turned out, that bitch Mercury was PMSing and in full blown retrograde, so of course, it didn’t go as easy as planned. Cant life EVER be simple? The answer my friends is no. But its the journey.. its the journey.. in difficult times, keep reminding yourself of that (and don't slap the red of my head please)<br />
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First, I dumped both bags into the Vitamix. God coconut flakes are gross. They are so dry and they look like palm kernal flakes. EEW. Now, keep in mind my vitamix has basically SHREDDED frozen bananas, ice, frozen anything into basically snow. That’s how powerful my vitamix is. The youtube videos I saw showed women basically throwing their flakes into an average blender (and don’t you DARE even call my vitamix average) and just blending and blending until the oils became extracted from the flakes and they had coconut butter! <br />
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Mercury and my vitamix had other plans and wanted no part of this but I don’t take no for an answer. <br />
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I began to blend the flakes.. and about 30 seconds into it being on variable 4, I noticed that the flakes on top weren't moving. Like maybe they were too dry and the blade was spinning but not moving the coconut. I started pushing with the plunger thingy, then I smelled something burning. <br />
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Fuck. My. Life. <br />
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THEN before I could envision my vitamix exploding and killing me (that came later), it automatically shut down like the smart little kitchen appliance that it is. God dammit. I'm sure I broke my vitamix trying to grind god damn COCONUT FLAKES. Not a FROZEN BANANA or a WHOLE APPLE, but Coconut Flakes. WHYYY?<br />
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So I went into the living room, did some yoga breathing, reminded myself that vitamixes have a 7 year warranty so I didn't start flipping out, then ate a cookie with some nutella on top. I Decided to let my machine cool down and read a bit about the vitamix’s auto shutoff. Apparently.. now get this. If you blend FASTER, it helped prevent the motor from overheating because it makes the cooling fans run higher. Wtf kind of that is obvious but who would think of that shit is that? So my engine might burn, so I should run it HIGHER? Ohhhkayyyyy… <br />
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So I gave the machine 15 minutes.. went back to the kitchen and started her up again. This time, starting on variable one, and quickly up to 6 using the plunger thingy the entire time to keep the flakes rotating. It was loud. Like.. not happy loud. Like.. put some liquid in this bitch loud. But it’s a vitamix.. it does sort of sound like a jackhammer anyway. I kept blending away, though I never got past variable 6 because I was using the pusher thing the whole time. Then after about 1 minute, the amazing happened. <br />
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It began to liquefy. <br />
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OMG! Its happening! My dried coconut flakes are becoming butter! I am a fucking urban homesteader! I'm ready to set up my back yard chicken coops! I AM LITTLE HOUSE ON THE FUCKING PRAIRIE! I let the machine rest and saw that the mush in my canister was hot. Time to have a nutella break and make sure I have the Oscar pre show on so I can judge people. <br />
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15 minutes later I returned and in full blown love with Charlize Theron and armed with ¼ cup of coconut oil. Apparently this makes the butter more spreadable so when either Charlize or DJ Soulsister come over for dinner I can easily put it on apples and feed them to those hot ladies. Anyway, I hit the machine and slowly went to variable 6 again, plunging the flakes the whole time and scraping down the sides. After 1 minute more I had it. COCONUT BUTTER. It smelled like heaven. Like delicious cookies. Like happyness. Since I am nothing but class all day every day, I began “checking it (by dipping the plunger thing in the mixture and then licking it off- I know, I cant understand why I'm still single either) it was SO good, I was literally picking up pieces of it off of the counter and licking it off of my fingers (Hi I'm a sexy bitch).<br />
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Once I was sure it was as smooth as it was gonna get (which it was smooth, but not cream smooth, more like peanut butter smooth) I scooped it into a Tupperware and left it alone to harden up. Mine wasn’t as pourable as the ones on the youtube videos. I was a little concerned that it might be too watery/oily on top. But by this morning it was spreadable yummy goodness that I could straight up eat with a spoon. Holy crap my life is changed.<br />
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Now what did we learn here, kids?<br />
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1. Use your vitamix plunger thingy<br />
2. Take breaks and eat nutella in between. Anything great requires patience, no?<br />
3. Do not continue to turn your machine when obviously the food isn’t moving <br />
4. Vitamixes are <u>so </u>smart<br />
5. Don't let your machine just hang out on Variable 2 or you will burn out your motor and think you broke your machine<br />
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So here is a picture of it. Had it on toast this morning and OMG DIVINE! THIS will be a staple in my house AND you can store it in the cabinet. RUMOR also has it that you can make CANDY with this stuff. Seriously? Fuck you Nutella with all your saturated fat and weird ingredients! I'm over you!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-24836133328648474572013-01-17T09:21:00.004-08:002013-01-17T09:21:28.997-08:00OMGAH Moving sucked!!!!!Hello interwebs from the land of NOLA! So much has happened since my life threw up and threw me down south! <br />
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Gabby started her amazing fancy school for smart people. I still sometimes wonder if we are related. <br />
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After living with mom for 4 months, we finally got our own place. As it turns out its an old creole cottage built in 1850 and its perfect and fantabulous and my rent is really really cheap and utilities included. So many things happened before we got this place. We didn’t know if we would be able to live in my mom’s area because people were getting priced out. SO many apartments that were absolute DUMPS were going for 1500-1600. Im sorry people, but that’s what I paid in NY only I was making 20k more. Our new place is across from a yarn store and an old church turned opera house. We found this apartment on a whim and got extremely lucky! We are in absolute apartment love and still learning the ropes of living in an old house. <br />
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I started baking full time. Like as in, as my job. I decided one day to just bake a loaf of bread and bring it to my favorite bakery and beg them to hire me. They did. My mornings started at 5:00am, getting off at noon. It was an amazing experience, but eventually I needed to go make money. Damn responsibilities. I am still working with them part time on King Cakes so its all good. After working for one week at a law firm where some bitch ass lawyer had the NERVE to get live with me about how I thought I was better than everyoune and that resulted in my cursing him out and walking out, I got a job at a really great law firm (finally) AND they gave me what I was asking in terms of salary. After working at the bakery all those months, coming home exhausted and literally unable to maintain any kind of life, 9-5 mon-fri is SO LUXURIOUS. <br />
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We miss our apartment in queens, but slowly life is coming together. I think the hardest thing for me let go of is Mr. Lu. We speak every day, and who knows what the future holds. For now I’m just grateful to have found truly someone who is my best friend. We always knew that we were best friends more than anything and both agreed that we couldn’t sustain a long distance relationship. But I still adore Lu and am lucky and blessed we are in each other’s lives. Some people you are just meant to have in your life and I know he is one of them. <br />
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On New Years Eve I fell down the stairs and broke my tailbone. I can only blame myself. Walking down the stairs talking to mom on a cell phone, holding a pile of laundry and wearing slippers and I just went down on my ass for three steps. That shit hurt so bad I got nauseaus. I was out of commission for weeks and am still recovering. As of two days ago I can drive an do light yoga. The yoga has been helping tremendously with the healing. <br />
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The pixie is growing. AND IT FUCKING SUCKS. Seriously, every day I want to chop it all off again. I LOVE LOVE LOVE short hair on me, but I get bored. If I EVER start talking about doing the Mia Farrow please hop through your computer and smack the shit out of me and shove a picture of this in between stage in my face. Thank you kindly. <br />
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The soap lab has been extremely crazy. I sold more soap then I could even catch up with last xmas. But my new fancy kitchen Island makes it SO MUCH EASIER than my old tiny apt kitchen! <br />
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So theres the cliff notes on where the brain purge is these days. Now on to making shit! Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-52545043972882352692012-07-09T10:10:00.002-07:002012-07-09T10:14:57.413-07:00Growing Out My Pixie-- Let the Games Begin!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Monday lovelies! Hope everyone out there in bloggerland had a fabulous weekend! Here in NY we were hit with a heatwave so I basically decided it was a great time to be a lazy ass and thats exactly what I did! I sat in the AC the entire weekend sippin on iced coffee and eating baked Ricotta and basically being useless. I did manage to dig my vitamix out of the trunk of my car and start making smoothies. The first one up was my favorite: Mango, coconut water, orange, apple and banana with a handful of spinach. POW! Even the boo thought it was yummy! <br />
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So I have a secret to tell you all. I haven't mentioned this to the people in my real life so you are the first to know. Well that's a lie. I did mention this to my mother who before I could even finish gasped in horror and began telling me I better wait till after August in New Orleans so I just ended THAT convo because it was NOT going to end well. <br />
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As many of you know, a few months ago in the midst of my emotional breakdown, I cut off all of my hair. I went very Mia Farrow and truthfully, it was totally adorable. I dont regret a day of it. It needed to be done as my hair was in horrible shape because of my thyroid and other hair "adventures". Ive decided to grow out my beloved super cute pixie. Not only have I decided to grow it out, I have decided not to color it. Why? I havent seen my damn natural hair color in MANY years! So the adventure begins!<br />
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Now lets not get crazy. This does not mean I will not cut my hair at all. The gameplan is to keep the back short while the rest grows into place so I dont end up looking like Billy Ray Cyrus. Simple. And the good news is, my hair texture is amazing and it looks like my color is great! My hair balm has totally helped my hair so Im anxious to see how this all goes! From what I am seeing now, my hair is naturally very red. I had that feeling. I have those creepy red eyelashes and Im pretty fair with some freckles. I always died it a lighter auburn and people really believed this was my real hair color! My hair stylist included! <br />
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I know a lot of people FREAK out over the thought of growing out a pixie, therefore, they hesitate to cut their hair. Let me be the first to tell you. I LOVED my short hair. I still love it! Its so easy and hassle free and seriously cute! Cute haircut with a cute dress?!? YES PLEASE! I just really truly have not seen my natural hair with any sort of length on it in my adult life. So I kind of think of this as a getting to know myself sort of adventure.<br />
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So I present you with the before shot. Dont laugh. I was in the middle of moving and it was a heatwave. So cut me some slack, betches. Hopefully by 6 months Ill have my bob back. Ill keep updating pics every week as it grows!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-29591936481529196602012-07-02T08:51:00.000-07:002012-07-06T08:53:30.182-07:00So we moved out of our apartment of 8 years. It was a sad goodbye as all of our old Greek neighbors who treated us as family came by to hug us and let us know that Gabby will always be a 23 street kid. On July 1, our final day, we were up at 5 so that I could drop my daughter off at the airport along with my cat, and prepare the other cat to meet my sister in law at LaGuardia. Two kittehs. Two different flights. Two different airports. Then we had to finish the final clearing out of the apartment. During the week of the big move,Gabby graduated 8th grade<br />
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Gabby had her 8th grade prom (sniff)<br />
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I purchased a really cool old volvo that I plan to drive down to New Orleans.<br />
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and Lu chased me around with a clown mug that for some reason was living in my cabinet.<br />
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I went from loving my apartment and having it so beautiful and vintage and homey like this<br />
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To wanting to do this<br />
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For now I am living in Lu's fabby apartment in Brooklyn while I finish out my temp assignment. Its pretty interesting. I haven't lived with anyone except my own kid in many many many years. Why? Because Im weird. Im quirky. I'm OCD about some things and slobby about others, but so is he and I can only be so OCD in someone else's house. This is the first week we have had to actually chill out and relax. The move took 4 days. It was a heatwave and we had ac only in one bedroom. Seriously the shit nightmares are made of. On the final day after I dropped the cats off, the new tenants who live two doors down stood outside rushing us to hurry up because they wanted to move in. SUPER irritating. But its over and this week we have focused on good food, being lazy bums and trying to stay cool in this ongoing heatwave!<br />
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-58513146023124508332012-05-29T08:59:00.001-07:002012-05-29T09:05:02.909-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Its fucking hot outside. Whats worse is I'm about to relocate to a broil your ass off climate so in a few months this is gonna feel like paradise. I'm fucking scared.<br />
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So its been lots of yoga. LOTS of yoga. Its the only way my head gets cleared and my stress gets managed. Who would have thought I would be a yoga lady? Not me, I can tell you! SO this weekend I busted out the sewing machines. I was working on a <a href="http://seekatesew.blogspot.com/2011/10/sweet-scallops-tote-pattern.html">variation of the scalloped bag from See Kate Sew</a> while trying to use up the remnants of my fabric so I wont have to ship it. I got all the way to attaching the handles and all the sudden...<br />
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BAM! ZIIING! (insert sound of rocket ship taking off)<br />
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All noises that you do NOT want your sewing machine to make.<br />
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I couldn't even use the handle to lift the needle. The bag was stuck and the needle is in down position. Bag RUINED. I wanted to cry. Those fucking scallops were a pain in the ass. I had carefully serged the edges of the burlap why-did-I-chose-this-fabric-for-a-totebag fabric. GRRR. But I was determined to make this bag. DETERMINED I tell you. <br />
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So busted out the singer machine I learned to sew on. AHHH I love this thing. Its a simple machine. No bells and whistles. Im missing half the feet (no blind hems for me this weel) I re cut the bag. Made new scallops. So new bag in progress.<br />
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In sewing success news, after 6 tries of making yoga pants that looked like I was trying on baby gap leggings in a size 2T, I finally got them down and made my first yoga pants based on this tutorial by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGWS-EKtAGU">threadbanger</a>. One thing to remember and note when doing this is the type of fabric you are using. Not all Jersey knits are alike which I soon realized in version 1 of trying to make these. I used a soft jersey knit that was sitting in my stash for ages. The result was, it being TOO soft, and not as stretchy as the original pants that I used as a template, and I had big girl pants. The good part is I felt super skinny in them.<br />
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So I finally found some red stretch knit. Im all about red pants and these just seem awesome. Now I can wear them to my yoga class and impress my yoga instructor whom I have a horrible gay crush on. Lets just hope they survive Downward dog.<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-42794243349897228192012-05-09T08:11:00.003-07:002012-05-09T08:14:00.108-07:00Cowboy Dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let me just tell you. I refuse to let a 20k paycut and 10 lbs of FML weight cramp my summer style awesomeness.<br />
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Last week after my weekly yoga and yuca bread at the bakery with the wifey and stepdaughter, I was in a mad rush to make the perfect jazzfest dress. My FAVORITE fabric store is in Astoria (go figure) on 30th avenue RIGHT across from the Yucca bread place! Since I needed <strike>an excuse to buy more damn fabric</strike> some heavyweight interfacing for a project I was working on, the gods called me in there and that is when I found it.<br />
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Sitting to the right of the cash register there it was. In the .99 a yard bin. The most <strike>ridiculous </strike>awesome pajama fabric on earth. Cowboys. All kinds of coyboys, with their names scribbled underneath. While I'm sure many young boys are rockin some amazing pj pants out of this stuff, it is lightweight cotton and drapes BEAUTIFULLY and had some hints of red. A summer dress with coyboys with a cute red collar teamed up with some cute red flats? Yes please! <br />
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So I began drafting my pattern on last years leftover xmas wrapping paper. It went like this:<br />
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measurement around shoulders + 1 inch<br />
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measurement around the bust + 1 inch<br />
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measurement around waist +3 inches because we were inserting some darts<br />
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measurement around hips + 1 inch<br />
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I measured from my boobs to my hips to create the length and measured around my puney arms to create an estimate of arm circumference. I then used a angled ruler to create my armholes.<br />
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The result was super cute. However, here is where I always fuck up my dresses. Zipper installation.<br />
Why do I always have to fight with zippers? Why? Why cant we just fucking get along? Every time I begin to install a zipper panic rises through me when I remember the year I wanted to make Gabby's Halloween costume and got right to the very end of her gothic lolita dress and literally sewed the zipper to the end of the bust and ripped it to the point of being absolutely destroyed. My being the awesome mother than I am, stood over the machine sobbing. Calling my sewing friends to let them all know I was never sewing again. Thats it. I was done. Fuck zippers. Fuck sewing. I cried for about 30 minutes before my friend Joi told me to come over and we would dig through her stuff and make a costume. 2 hours later we had made gothic lolita gloves and her costume was pulled off with a mix of tuxedo shirts and foofy skirts.<br />
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Ok, now Im going off the subject. Back to the cowboy dress. <br />
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So true to form, this dress COULD have not even used a zipper because it was kind of loose and I could have pulled it over my head. But me, being the overachiever that I am was like "fuck that madness, I'm installing a zipper" and as per usual, it didn't work out so well. And.. ahhem.. it was an exposed zipper. Dont judge.<br />
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So this dress is muslin for the next cowboy dress. Ive made some adjustments to the pattern and I think its now perfect. Dont get me wrong, this dress is still rockable. Its loose and will be perfect for the summer months if we move to Louisiana and awesome for strolling around Brooklyn Flea if we stay in NY.<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-21181702248147573582012-05-09T07:25:00.000-07:002012-05-09T07:28:20.166-07:00You Look Familiar, Do I Know You?!?Its been a long time and I have too many blogs. Trustybush, my food blog. So I decided, why not combine them all? I mean, I already own my most favorite name ever!
So I promise to be better blogger for all 3 readers out there! I promise!
So since its been about 2 years since Ive updated Ill give you some Cliffnotes as to whats going on mkay?<br />
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That little girl with the two braids on the side of her head called DD? You know, the one I made bento box lunches for? Ya, well, she turned into a teenager. Yes. Shit just got real.<br />
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The economy crashed and well, my employed life went down the crapper after they "eliminated my position" at the firm I was working for. My daughter went through the emotionally and mentally exhausting high school process here in NY and despite being an honor role student was not matched up into any decent high schools. So we began looking at schools in New Orleans. Turns out the 27th ranked top school in the country is there and well, she just tested last Saturday. So, Ive been temping since I cant take a full time job until I know whats going on and taking a 20k paycut. Thankfully my awesome temp job is well.. awesome. My boss is fantastic and my coworkers are so great. Takes the sting out of being a broke ass bitch all the time. The thought of moving in with my mom at the age of 35 scares me more than words will ever begin to express. Not that my mom sucks or anything, but I'm 35. Ive been on my own since I was 17. Need I say more?<br />
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My soap business is doing great. Seriously so much better than I ever expected which makes me happy since I do believe I make the best soap in the world. I truly do.
So, that's about it! Lots of yoga, lots of meditation lots of being in limbo and lots of learning to not lose my shit!<br />
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So, without further adeau here is your Broke ass bitch tip of the day:<br />
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So, we got back from New Orleans and I was dead ass broke. Seriously. I don't live on credit cards and this paycut is seriously kicking my ass. We were gone 10 days so I looked in the fridge and realized that everything was pretty much bad. The milk was bad, the eggs are bad, the spinach is bad. BUT thankfully I opened the freezer and was in awe of my awesome foresight two weeks ago that I would be coming home from vacation piss broke for two days before I got paid again and found the following:
Frozen Tilapia. Yes. If you can get your paws on this stuff on sale, GET IT. It seriously takes about 15 minutes to bake and DD who is picky as hell LOVES it. Is it fancy as hell fish? No. But its delicious and can be made fairly quickly and is healthier than pink slime, fried shit and pre packaged shit.
PIZZA: ok this is not the healthiest option, but in my defense, Two weeks ago we ordered WAY TOO MUCH PIZZA from our local mom and pop pizzeria because they have Sunday $10.00 a pie specials. Seriously we had half of a pie left so I stuck the leftovers in a freezerbag and froze them.
Frozen Granola Bars. Yes, I made the SHIT out of some granola bars before we left. OMG they were so delicious but the batch made about 30 bars. So, me being the awesome broke bitch that I am, threw the remaining ones in the freezer! I zapped one in the microwave this morning and had it for breakfast and DD did the same! Go me!
So my tip is before going away on vacation (or to send your kid to take a High School entrance test that just so happens to land on the second weekend of jazzfest) Freeze EVERYTHING that can be frozen that you don't eat. That way your not stuck living on hope and wish sandwiches when you get back home.<br />
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The Kittehs were super happy when we got home, go figure. They both came out of their usual hiding spot to hang with us in the living room. This is Rosie our sweet but semi retarded cat who usually lives under the bed who came out to luxuriate in a rub against my pixie cut.
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEC4stUluVE/T6p9MjOyF7I/AAAAAAAAASo/PXqXzVowKjA/s1600/306274_10150799581723562_507638561_9502778_1585490859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEC4stUluVE/T6p9MjOyF7I/AAAAAAAAASo/PXqXzVowKjA/s320/306274_10150799581723562_507638561_9502778_1585490859_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-33698444680618710742009-01-04T19:08:00.000-08:002009-01-04T19:25:38.988-08:00Bento Box Hotdog Bears<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/SWF9rN3CoeI/AAAAAAAAALI/RjM1xDFb9ro/s1600-h/bentolunch.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/SWF9rN3CoeI/AAAAAAAAALI/RjM1xDFb9ro/s320/bentolunch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287645618918040034" /></a><br /><br /><br />Hey lovelies! First off, i want to wish everyone a happy crafty 2009! Wow did 2008 suck or what? But at least we have an awesome new president coming and 2009 is at least showing some promise..<br /><br />Life in beJessie land has been a little crazy. I got laid off from my day job, which isnt necessarily the WORST thing in the world. I mean, we all know how much I LOVED it there (Im being sarcastic) and I think sometimes the universe does for you what you don't do for yourself. It was definitely time for me to get the hell out of there in a big way. However, Im just hoping that my new job will come quickly as my last day at the office is on the 16th.. and Im sorta starting to panic. But anyhow.... So all good vibes are much appreciated and I promise I will repay them with tons of craftygoodness this year. Now on with what is important.. bento box hotdog sushi bears.. yes.. the world just ISNT ready for that kind of awesomeness, but I know you certainly are.. <br /><br />So my daughter has for the past few years decided that she is Japanese. She listens to Japanese pop bands, and even keeps note books upon notebooks of Japanese translations.. she watches all of her movies in Japanese.. so when she asked for a Bento Box for Christmas.. I wasn't surprised. We live in New York so we have more access than most to Japanese and other Asian markets. I figure hey, if she wants to eat veggies and sushi type snacks rather than processed crap, Im all about it. I admit to fibbing a few times to get her to eat her veggies ("hey Gabs, those green beans, they are from Japan") dont judge me. <br /><br />Anyway, this was inspired by a recipe we found in a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hawaiis-Bento-Box-Cookbook-Lunches/dp/1566478650">Hawaiis Bento Box Cookbook-Fun Lunches for Kids written by Susan Yuen</a>. She has SO many cute ideas for bento lunches that are fairly accessible and fast and easy. While this one is not one of the healthier by any means, we thought it was super cute and is what she is going to bring for lunch tomorrow in her shiny green bento box. It was super easy to make, if you can get your hands on some Norri. <br /><br />Anyway, we are LOVING this book.. my ADD is in full swing and its totally distracting me from some soap making I have to do.. blah!!!!!!!!!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-78183728942008512732008-11-04T13:56:00.000-08:002008-11-04T13:59:22.881-08:00STRESSSo, today I got up early, stood in line for approximately 2 hours in Astoria- I voted, then got my free starbucks coffee. Tonight I will retrieve my child from her grandfathers house, order some food with Nikki and just hole myself up in my apartment with a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of wine. <br /><br />The. Stress. Is. Killing. Me. <br /><br /><br />Dear Red States:<br /><br />If you manage to steal this election too we've decided we're leaving.<br />We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue<br />States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes California,<br />Hawaii, Oregon,Washington, Minnesota,Wisconsin, Michigan,Illinois and<br />all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the<br />nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New<br />California.<br />To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states.<br />We get stem cell research and the best beaches.<br />We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.<br />We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.<br />We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss.<br />We get 85% of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs.<br />You get Alabama.<br />We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red<br />states pay their fair share.<br /><br />Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22% lower than the Christian<br />Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families.<br />You get a bunch of single moms.<br /><br />Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-<br />war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once.<br />If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids<br />they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose,<br />and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's<br />caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq , and hope<br />that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources<br />in Bush's Quagmire.<br /><br />With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80% of<br />the country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and<br />lettuce, 92% of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality<br />wines, 90% of all cheese, 90% of the high tech industry, 95% of the<br />corn and soybeans (thanks Iowa!), most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal,<br />all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and<br />SevenSister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.<br /><br />With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with<br />88% of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs),<br />92% of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of<br />the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all<br />televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and<br />the University of Georgia.<br />We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.<br /><br />Additionally, 38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was<br />actually swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless<br />we're discussing the war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say<br />that evolution is only a theory, 53% that Saddam was involved in<br />9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you are people with<br />higher morals then we lefties.<br /><br />Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt<br />weed they grow in Mexico.<br /><br /><br />Peace out,<br />Blue StatesJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-24940418734385003102008-10-25T11:03:00.001-07:002008-10-25T11:03:52.537-07:00Bansky Battles the Gray Ghost<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/RBePcxfw-MBKuna7NL4y4ko3pBl1mdBQ0I59C3Sj7z8bRbGV7AldVgvtNZoxnPPW3s*LuA9ziukz6CBgG66ifN3JOA5ILK1O/image5541.jpg" alt="" width="166" height="104"/></p><br /><br />Fred Radtke aka the Gray Ghost<br /><br /><br />Living in NY in the early 90s was time when NYCs graffiti was being "fought" when trains suddenly were becoming "graffiti proof" when NY laws started having less tollerence for graffiti, and going out "bombing" often involved the artist, a lookout person (usually my job since I didn't draw or paint at the time:)). We had to have fake IDs and permission to get labels and spray paint, and because we were all underage, most of us used the same person to hook us up with our supplies. I had friends who were arrested for amazing pieces done on the side of abandoned warehouses.<br /><br />So today when I see Galleries showcasing superstar graffiti artists, huge exhibits and herds upon herds of NYCs elite coming to schmooze and drink expensive drinks whilst gazing upon some graffiti art on canvas still amazes me. Im still in awe of the people who celebrate the "graffiti artists" referencing them as street artists, and I guess I still don't know whether to feel like the artists have won, or to feel like part of the art form, that being the pursuit of making the art, the chase, the underground..has been stolen. Still I cant help but to whimper at pieces by people like Lady Pink, and want to fly to England to see a Bansky and to almost be brought to tears standing with my boyfriend gazing at a Sheppard Fairy (in a Gallery).<br /><br />But in New Orleans, its still the 90s in this aspect, only the artists aren't being harassed by the police, but by an individual anti graffiti vigalanti known locally as "Gray Ghost". In a city that celebrates Dr. Bobs "Be Nice or Leave" signs, where colorful street art is decorating what is still the glum broken down houses, water lines still in clear view on the sides of buildings, where huge empty parking lots display empty shells of what used to be thriving supermarkets and stores. All a reminder of what went wrong not just for New Orleans, but what went wrong for us as an entire country. All a reminder of how our own country failed us. Street art began to cover the sides of glum buildings, giving us a story of hope, with proof that the soul of this city wasn't taken away. But then it fades to gray. When the "Gray Ghost" takes it upon himself to roll over the art with gray paint. When I arrived in New Orleans this summer, I couldn't help but to notice the gray smudges EVERYWHERE. On signs, on buildings, under the interstate. All the markings of the Gray Ghost. I couldn't help but to think "hmm well what makes this guys gray smudge any less offensive than what may be underneath?" What makes his gray paint any better than someone's spray paint? And if you think this guy might know the difference between a "tag" and an actual "piece" you would be wrong. Any sign of any graffiti art in the city has been smudged over, but what shocked and horrified local residents more than any of it was his painting over Dr. Bobs "Welcome to Bywater Be Nice or Leave" sign. This sparked a petition in the Bywater, a neighborhood where many of New Orleans well known artists reside, to ban the Gray Ghost. In return people have created stencils saying "This shit is boring" that have been sprayed over the Gray Ghost's smudges.<br /><br />What alarmed me was my recent visit to New Orleans- after hearing that Bansky had done a few amazing pieces. My jaw dropped, though I dont know why, when I heard that the gray ghost had painted over the Bansky pieces. I was in total shock. If you go to Banskys website, he talks about this and how we came to New Orleans and why and how the vigilante known as the gray ghost had done so much more damage than good.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/RBePcxfw-MBNec9xNWltbavPTQmI4OkCdwYGHbK-v6F172CF4WgqqCjPF-ymUCY2honJdGpth2yXItg1cgQW3hijF-aRJ6Ps/ghost_a2.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="492"/></p><br /><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/RBePcxfw-MA*HII7VHNQtjhtkwfw0j8*RsmWN0Mvg-zpij9FlhqPKkr3ZTsFNyjZWQJDcl7ddy0PHblYrWkLfw-hSF2CfXfn/ghost_b.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="492"/></p><br />(photos: Bansky)<br /><br />Furthermore beef has erupted between Mr. Ghost and <a href="http://www.nolauprising.com">NOLA Uprising,</a> an oganization whose mission is "encouraging people in all faubourgs of Greater New Orleans to publicly display works of art, regardless of how simple or untutored it may seem to be, for the purpose of rebuilding and restoring the human spirit in our city. NOLA is a unique and beautiful city that has historically embraced the spirit of personal freedom that supports the growth of the artist, musician and writer ... the goal of the NoLa Rising Project is to showcase that spirit." Handmade street signs made by members of the uprising to replace the ones lost in the storm were defaced by Ghost and the Ghost took it a step further to sue the uprising for defacing public property.<br /><br />So who is the Gray Ghost? His name is Fred Radtke. He is a 47 year old resident who drives around in his white dodge (with a red pinstripe, no less) with a trunk full of gray paint and a roller. He lives under the philosophy that one mark of grafiti will lead to more crime in the neighborhoods. He has been quoted comparing grafiti artists to cults of Satan. And in this article, hes calling asian shop owners "Orientals".. blech.. this all just leaves me feeling a little dirty. I dont know, sounds like a quack to me. But Ill let you be the judge.<br /><br />All I can say is back in my day, an ass whooping would have been in order.<br /><br />Get your fabo anti gray ghost tshirt <a href="http://dirtycoast.com/product_view.php?id=106">here</a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-42331034594291296392008-08-25T19:55:00.000-07:002008-08-25T19:57:23.532-07:00Psssst. Guess what?!?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/SLNw3Mw4gTI/AAAAAAAAAHU/r4Mha11Cysw/s1600-h/jessie+-+cartoon2+copy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/SLNw3Mw4gTI/AAAAAAAAAHU/r4Mha11Cysw/s320/jessie+-+cartoon2+copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238654885183390002" /></a><br /><br /><br />yes bitches its true. Go the <a href="http://www.bejessie.etsy.com">etsy shop</a>!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-81026096241211337772008-08-25T19:51:00.000-07:002008-08-25T20:00:22.089-07:00Pot Psychology gets some LURVE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/SLNwSByWRZI/AAAAAAAAAHM/mv9xPwJwAVw/s1600-h/potpsych28.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/SLNwSByWRZI/AAAAAAAAAHM/mv9xPwJwAVw/s320/potpsych28.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238654246581585298" /></a><br /><br /><br />ok.. be warned.. kiddos under 18.. cover your eyes..<br /><br />My two favorite buddies and their <a href="http://jezebel.com/5040677/high-times-sarah-silverman-and-the-best-of-pot-psychology">Pot Psychology </a>vlog is getting tons of love and this time from Sarah Silberman! YIPPEEE! These two remind me of the old school nights spent up in sunset park with my peoples back in the 90s.. ahhem.. I mean umm.. it reminds me of some kids I knew back in that crazy Pacific High School.. (oh yes I did, honey!)<br /><br />Anyway, if your having a bad day, and need a crackup, or if you accidentally drank a cockroach like I did this morning because my cup of iced coffee was infested....check em out.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-80202379056047766092008-06-06T08:24:00.001-07:002008-12-09T05:50:37.988-08:00Whats Good In My HoodSo I realized in my last post that I didn’t give proper respect and props to the places in my hood that keep me alive and happy. With all the focus on LIC, I forgot to mention a few of my own lifelines, so before they find this blog and throw shade at me I decided I should give them the love that they deserve. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/SElW0WQmgiI/AAAAAAAAAG8/uUXLt-QmeFs/s1600-h/fattys.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/SElW0WQmgiI/AAAAAAAAAG8/uUXLt-QmeFs/s320/fattys.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208789901359088162" /></a><br />First and foremost. Fattys. Fattys is a spot located on Ditmars and Crescent in Astoria. I came to this spot before I even moved to the area, and admittingly, it was one of the reasons I actually moved here (aside from the school and the fact I was escaping an ex who had a fake brain tumor, but I digress). Fattys has seen me through some pretty crappy times and has been my goto spot in my happiest times. They now accept credit cards, which is beyond fabulous. And their brunch is FABULOSO. Please. For about 9 bucks you get your meal and a mimosa (mango or paypaya or old school regular with oj) or a bloody mary. The atmosphere is festive on their walls they frequently feature art from local artists that are available for purchase. In the summer they open the back and with the fence and the trees you feel like your somewhere that should be near a beach. The food has a latin flair, serving dishes like mofongo and empenadas and café con leche. Their grilled cheese of the day is always fabulous, and they make what has been rumored to be the BEST mojitos in NYC (I still have yet to have a better mojito. Seriously). Their limeaid just ROCKS. Their sweet potato french-fries are my goto comfort food when times are shitty. The owners are quite possibly the sweetest people ever. My mother makes it her FIRST stop when she comes in to town to say hello to them. They have surprised my daughter with birthday cake, and have listened to be moan about my problems. Fattys, I love you. And your chicken chavorayo and sweet potato fries, and steak frita, and grilled cheese, and mojitos. Awe hell, I just love you guys. <br /><br /><br />Second on my list is a spot almost across the street from fattys called <a href="http://www.waltz-astoria.com">Waltz</a>. When Waltz opened, I was a bit concerned about its ability to survive. They used to only own the lower level and have no expanded into two levels. Why? Because Waltz also offers low-cost rental to independent musicians, artists and filmmakers for various non-performance related projects, helping to promote creativity inside the city of Astoria and Long Island City. With the risk of sounding like crack whore mom of the year, I admit, that I have gone there more than once with child to sit upstairs, listen to the Jazz and have a glass of sangria while my daughter munches on cheesecake. Their coffee drinks rock. I don’t know if they do it anymore, but a few summers ago they served iced coffee with coffee ice cubes! Hello! Genious! The owner has made it a place for everyone. Mommys with strollers, collegekids with laptops. Boardgames are on the shelves as are used books for sale. They serve a really kick ass chai latte and yummy desserts. Its just a good place to go and distress or go on a blind date and Im so happy they are doing well. Man if I could get them to let the craft mafia do an event there, Id love em even more. Lol. Oh and lets not forget. Their sangria is Yummmeh! So get good karma and support this spot that just makes you feel good. <br /><br />A third on my list is “<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/family-corner-restaurant-astoria">Family Corner</a>” a little hole in the wall and teeny tiny (it used to be an ice cream parlor in the 50s) on the corner of 31st and 20th avenue. This is straight up plain diner food BUT they have specials on weekends that are off the hook. Like Their lemon orzo soup and brisket is awesome! They also serve home made spinach pie and baklevah. But what keeps me coming back is the staff who, if you go more than once and say hi, will treat you like family. When I first moved here I was working on an art project that involved 100 “you are not a winner” bottlecaps. I mentioned this to one of the waitresses there, and seriously, I came back in a month and she had a brown bag for me full of them. Ever since then, they are my spot for cheap dinner and good convo. So if you are like me and don’t have a ton of family in the area, start going to family diner. You will create one.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-15106620191686843082008-06-06T06:42:00.000-07:002008-06-06T08:38:20.473-07:00Me + CommuniTEA = Love<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2554631647_cc6c5ab90d.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2554631647_cc6c5ab90d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2555461244_d488110049.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2555461244_d488110049.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><p>I have this dream. To be able to quit working as a <s>Babysitter, accountant, corporate communications person, HR assistant, therapist, personal whipping boy/bitch</s> ahhhemmm I mean legal secretary, and be able to do my clothing and soap and run a shop full time. I dream this, I live this. And this vision is what keeps me going every day. Since moving to Astoria, the vision has become clearer and clearer as far as WHERE I want to be based out of and just how things will operate. A few years ago I discovered the sculpture park which prompted my exploration of my hood (according to con ed- but Im really astoria) Long Island City.</p> <br /><br />Since then its been my mission to try to bring more crafty goodness to the LIC area, only because thats where most of the artsists are ending up. With PS1 and blocks of buildings that have become studio space for those pushed out of their spots in Brooklyn and Chelsea, Long Island city still holds a <strong>real</strong> neighborhood feel and real sense of community. A few things I miss in many of my old stomping grounds that have now become pretentious playgrounds for observers. <br /><br />I had been DIEING to try a tea house in the area called CommuniTEA. I read about it while doing a search for black tea (dont ask) and stumbled upon this website. The tea house looked amazing and reviews were great. And it was on Vernon Blvd, right next to PS1. So when Local Labels called me up so we could exchange soap (they are doing my soap pics, which is rad of them) and she said "ok lets meet at CommuniTEA" I was like DONE. <br /><br />It was all I really wanted it to be- a tasteful chic space where people can work that serves good food and yummy teas. The back wall is a chalk board and all of their amazing brews were written across it. Then I noticed the smoothies. Gabby was itching for a Pink Monster (which was a pretty yummy blend of strawberry, banana and Pineapple juice" I ordered a Monkey something or other that involved berries and a bit of chocolate. Yummy looking sandwiches and paninis were listed from the ceiling to the floor, and the staff was super friendly. From what I saw most of the customers were regulars and it was really easy to strike up random conversation with people. Before I left I felt like I had been there a zillion times, and I cant wait to go back. Its Definately a place thats like a second home- not a pretentious snob fest. I plan on spending LOTS of time here this summer! Yeay! <br /><br />Another spot I noticed right next door was a restaurant called <a href="http://www.blendlic.com/">Blend</a>. At first I thought it was a coffee house and thought hmm.. wonder if its owned by the communiTEA people next door. Upon further investigation, I saw that it was a supercute latin fusion restaurant. I really wish I hadnt stuffed my face with Pizza before that because now Im seriously hoping to check it out because apparently they are serving Pernil and chuletas and all sorts of yummy goodness that makes me feel like Im up in Biancas-which to me is "home"- even though Im just a red headed white girl. :P I may have to make it a priority to hit this spot this weekend and see whats poppin in there. <br /><br />So if you coming to visit Long Island City this summer (perhaps attending the warm up) make it a point o stop at CommuniTEA and support the hood. You wont be sorry.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-14119453233559149182008-06-03T21:00:00.000-07:002008-06-03T21:03:02.421-07:00Damn YallBased out of San Fransisco, Double Dutchess ROCKS it live. <br />Thank you Bust for showing me this wicked shit!<br /><br />I mean dont get me wrong I used to rock the jump ropes back in my day.. but this is some next level kind of shit. Who said white girls cant jump? Umm can I be the chick in the pigtails please? <br /><br />Check it. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GRpcoi1bv_s&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GRpcoi1bv_s&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-82146260254618113222008-05-22T09:55:00.000-07:002008-05-22T10:35:20.330-07:00TOO MUCH AWESOMENESS FOR ONE POST<a href="http://mirror1.etsy.com/il_430xN.27216853.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://mirror1.etsy.com/il_430xN.27216853.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />ok sometimes, I just have a day of pure awesomeness. My day started in the wee hours of the morning. I woke up from my sleep around 4am having to go potty (which usually sucks) but when I went back to sleep I actually had a dream that I WON <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Bernina-Artista-180-Special-Edition-2000_W0QQitemZ280228077830QQcmdZViewItem">this sewing machine</a>. Which, if you saw my crappy little singer I sew on you would realize that it is the equivilent of having a dream about winning the lottery. So, today my friends is one of those days of awesomeness.. so read carefully.. because if you live in the NYC area Imma hoook you up! You ready for it??<br /><br />First of all, the amazingly sick talented Ms.Supayana is going to be teaching you how to make your own underwear over at Etsy Labs. Seriously. I almost fell out of my chair when I read that bulliten. The event listing is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11897985">here</a> and its only $45.00! If you dont know who Supayana is, check out her website at www.supayana.com. Girlfriend has skillz. trust me on that. Handmade DIY CHONIES? OMG Im beside myself. Here are the deets<br /><br />Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2008<br />Time: 7-9pm<br />Location: Etsy Labs, 325 Gold Street 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201<br /><br />There are only 8 spaces left. So dont be stupid. Go sign up. <br /><br />Ever since the mid 90s its not very often I get really excited about a sneaker. Excited enough to set my alarm clock and stand on line infront of a sneaker store. The last time I did it was for a pair of limited edition Filas (shut up it was 1993 and YOU know the purple and white double straps were the hotness and I needed them to match my columbia rain suit!) Well, while reading one of my favorite blogs (<a href="http://www.bust.com">bust blog on Bust.com</a>)I came across THESE and now Im in sneaker LOVE. WTF. A collabo of Karen Richter and VANS? What are you trying to do to me over here?!? They drop June 1 and dont be surprised if I am that person doing it old school style standing infront of the vans shop at 7 am on line waiting for them to open. Im really feeling them in the blue color.. sigh.. Im in love. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.bust.com/media/4/kr_vans2_1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.bust.com/media/4/kr_vans2_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Also I was surprised when I mentioned to my girl Judy that Etsy had its own section for Vintage clothing now! If you go to the <a href="http://www.etsy.com">main page </a> and on the drop down menu of categories scroll down to vintage clothing. Well, Seriously, you can get your whole summer wardrobe on there. Most of us vintage dress whores have been confined to ebay and thrift shops not in NYC to get cute dresses on the cheap, but Etsy hooked us up with this because there are LOADS of amazing vintage yummyness for you to drool over. I was SHOCKED to see how many people didnt know about this. I contemplated not sharing it with you and keeping the pickins all for me, but I need the good karnma. <br /><br />Oh and this may be totally random to some to have this posted on a craft blog, but I personally get inspired by nature and if you dont, then you suck. So, when I found <a href="http://wavelit.com/media/702/Eagles_Nest_Live/">this live webcam</a> that shows the birth of baby eagles all the way up until they leave the nest I HAD to share it with someone. Strange thing is, its kinda addictive. Mama eagle was in her nest about 10 minutes ago hiding her head because it was windy. Wow. Me thinks I need a life. <br /><br />yeah... anyway...<br />Thank me later.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-9835959451000805992008-05-20T09:27:00.000-07:002008-05-20T09:46:58.990-07:00Tutorial on the way betches!SO the trouble with juggleing two types of crafts is .. well.. juggleing two types of crafts. I havent had any time really to put together any tops but it is my priority this month to get some together. Ive been making soap like a mad woman at night in order to fill orders from repeat customers that bought soap at craftacular. I also want to have anough loaves of cured soap for some summer events I plan on doing and everyone in the world knows that a good aged Castile soap is the BEST possible soap eva, right? In the words of the greatest rapper of all time, Well if you dont know now you know! I have one top halfway done sitting on a hanger right now and its calling me.. in a big way. So as soon as I can get this honey soap and another castile soap going, the top will be made. <br /><br />Also in the works is my very fist craft tutorial. I am going to do a newbies introduction to cold processed soap making using a 3# can of veggie shortening. I just feel for a first timer this process helps you understand the actual process and what the appearence of trace is. Plus its an oil that makes a decent bar of soap and is accessable. I know many soapmakers have their opinions about the best way to learn, the best recipe, the best process, the best safety precautions and know what? Its my friggin BLOG! And this is the way I learned and this is the way I will teach. If you dont like it go get your own blog. <br /><br />Last weekend, while hanging with Veronica in Astoria, I went to visit this fabric shop RIGHT by one of our favorite frappe/dessert/crepe spots. I cant even beging to tell you guys the amount of stuff I could have come home with that day. PLUS I had the car parked almost right across the street! Pretty dangerous. Anyway, I walked away with some awesome stretch houndstooth fabric and some red jersey knit and few other goodies that will get sewin into some fierce tops and a dress in the next few weeks so look out.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-38750432831370323002008-05-12T08:14:00.000-07:002013-02-26T09:07:18.627-08:00Its About To Go Down<a href="http://www.theflip.com/img/products/prod_main.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.theflip.com/img/products/prod_main.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Guess who got one of THESE for mothersday??<br />
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Can we say Video Tutorials?? YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! <br />
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Oh and perverts on the train, and those who misbehave on the streets- watch out cuz I will put you on blast.<br />
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xox<br />
JJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-76484267141771931822008-05-07T08:22:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:50:38.214-08:00I will get Arts and Crafts on your ass<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/SCHJNquUqlI/AAAAAAAAAG0/dHBLT5jNf6U/s1600-h/kick.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/SCHJNquUqlI/AAAAAAAAAG0/dHBLT5jNf6U/s320/kick.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197656681606326866" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.explosm.net/comics/1271/">Explosm.net</a><br /><br />Thank you <a href="http://www.stereoette.com">Joi</a>!!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-35103202923427730792008-04-30T09:34:00.000-07:002008-04-30T09:44:14.393-07:00Me + Craftstylish = <3Bust Magazines first ever spring fling craftacular was beyond words for me. Themed in a 90s prom/dance party and located at the Warsaw, Bust Magazine truly gave me the prom I missed in the 90s (ok so I missed it because I was pregnant with Gabby.. shut up!) and Im sure this one was way more awesome than the one Pacific High School did in 1997.<br /><br />I was with my craft mafia girls in a table situated by the entry to the food area. Which was PERFECT for me since I set my soap display up sorta bakery style and my soaps have a tendancy to look like food. I met so many really cool people and even got interviewed by my friend Nikki Smith for <a href="http://www.craftstylish.com/">Craftstylish.com</a>, a website featuring the latest haps on the craft scene along with really cool tutorials. <a href="http://www.craftstylish.com/">Check them out out</a>!<br /><br />Here is the mini interview- note that Marky Mark is totally playing in the background! Awesomeness!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R1Rq321R1QQ"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R1Rq321R1QQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-75822395699961752212008-04-30T09:25:00.001-07:002008-04-30T19:13:50.439-07:00Down On Bended KneeCut Out and Keep is one of my favorite websites right now. Pretty much one stop shopping for different crafty tutorials ranging from hoodies to hairpins..
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<br />But you know that moment when you find "the one"? The moment where you exchange glances from across a crowded room and you KNOW that no words are necessary, for no words can express the genuine lust and attraction that is beyond mere words? Well this, my friends is what happened when I opened my Myspace bulletins and saw this
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<br />Cut Out and Keep.. Marry me.
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<br /><a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmN1dG91dGFuZGtlZXAubmV0L3Byb2plY3RzL2NhZGJ1cnlfY3JlbWVfc3R1ZmZlZF92YW5pbGxhX2N1cGNha2Vz"><img alt="Large" src="http://images.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/cadbury_creme_stuffed_vanilla_cupcakes/large.jpg" /></a><br /><br />'Cadbury Creme Stuffed Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache Frosting'<br <a href="http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/cadbury_creme_stuffed_vanilla_cupcakes">Click here to find out how to make them</a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-79220627505139128232008-02-15T07:42:00.001-08:002008-12-09T05:50:38.654-08:00beJessie is getting more press.. yeay!SO... if you want to learn how to make this<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/R7WzGWi1p1I/AAAAAAAAAGY/z8ZjuwCzZ7I/s1600-h/correctedchocscopy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/R7WzGWi1p1I/AAAAAAAAAGY/z8ZjuwCzZ7I/s320/correctedchocscopy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167233069189801810" /></a><br /><br />click <a href="http://weblogs.newsday.com/features/home/cheap_thrills_blog/2008/02/diy_tutorial_i_love_me_tub_tru.html">HERE </a> yes, my tutorial got into Newsdays bloggie!! YEAY!!!<br /><br />Also, I was approached by <a href="http://www.ediblebrooklyn.net">Edible Brooklyn Magazine</a> to have one of my soap cakes featured.. Im so psyched. I was searching everywhere for a photographer to take proper pics of the cakes (unlike my famous 2:00 am crack shots.. :D) and found a former student of my moms bf, named Lilli Albin. She is a student now at the School of Visual Arts, and she totally hooked my ass up. She was able to rent out a room and a ton of equipment so she took some shots of the cake and of the candies for Newsday.. And they are fabo! <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/R7W0D2i1p2I/AAAAAAAAAGg/51sYBXinTOc/s1600-h/corrected_cake_FF19copy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OgW2qq13Vg8/R7W0D2i1p2I/AAAAAAAAAGg/51sYBXinTOc/s320/corrected_cake_FF19copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167234125751756642" /></a><br /><br />So Ive been superbusy and seriously my daughter is my biggest helper.. weve had some funny stuff happen to us in the midst of running around trying to get everything together for press opportunities...lol. On the way to the photoshoot for the soap cakes, it was raining and we couldnt figure out how to get this soap cake (which of course at the time of the shoot was a FRESH batch of soap, and OF COURSE the ICING didnt harden up in 48 hours..so it was WET) to the shoot, in the rain, on the subway. My daughter comes up with an amazing idea of putting the soap on some waxpaper and then in a pot with the lid on top. Brilliant! So we do this (and are extremely proud of ourselves) and start schlepping a huge bag and this pot in the rain to the subway station. On the way, I decided to pick up a cakestand for the shoot, so we run into this discount store, where I realize shit.. we may need a NYC Granny Cart.. So I get one (a little one dammit!) and put everything in the cart. At this point.. Im feeling pretty damn clever...<br /><br />We make our way to the train- everyone is seated and here we are with our granny cart with a box on bottom and a pot on top.. suddenly WHAM! My cart hits a bump (or Gabbys foot) and cart tips over, the pot flys open and the soapcake (which as you can see looks like a REAL cake) goes sliding on its wax paper down the isle about 10 feet as people watched.. I am horrified, and I go chasing it, and quickly pick it up, and put it in the pot and put the pot back in the granny cart.. we finally sit down and my daughter says "oooh that was embarressing".. lol. At that point, I just had to laugh. People were looking at me like "wtf"?? Poor Gabs.. I have a savings account for her therapy already.. cuz Im a good crafty mommy.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20345681.post-52190518915630326702008-01-06T16:49:00.001-08:002008-01-07T07:19:54.189-08:00Church of Craft= SO MUCH FUNOMG Church of craft was so much fun! Leila and I packed up the kids and half finished paintings and set out to Etsy labs for Church of Craft. It was so nice to do some anti cheating men artwork.. usually soap and clothing dont allow for that! Etsy had everything you could possibly need for good collage... old mother goose books, crossword puzzles, paint, and vintage porn! lol.. Unfortunately I couldnt dive too much into the porn because well.. the kiddies were there and believe it or not I do have values.. Check out the pics.. Between three hours of crafting and an hour eating way too much Columbian food, Im wiped..<br /><br />The people at etsy were so nice and Gabby and Natalia made all kinds of crafty friends. I will definately be in touch with CHurch of Craft to possibly try to get something going in Queens. Possibly Waltz Astoria if I can pursuade the owner. <br /><br />Anyway, check out the pics. <br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-1e.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=9749278&site=widget-1e.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&ad=0&id=9749278&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-1e.slide.com/p1/9749278/bb_t016_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&ad=0&id=9749278&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-1e.slide.com/p2/9749278/bb_t016_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05811771317390579290noreply@blogger.com0