Clown Time

We've all seen Christine O'Donnell's crazy-ass ad stating she's not a witch (um... did that need to be said out loud?).

???

I don't want to state the obvious, but this is total clown time.

Here's the ad for you to check out to refresh your memory:
Christine O'Donnell Ad

And here's the SNL spoof (of course):
SNL Spoof

And here's Elvira's spoof (hurrah):
Elvira's Spoof

Be afraid, Delaware, be very afraid. And guys, I'm really not a sorceress. And you're not the Sheriff of Nottingham, and he's not the Easter Bunny, and she's not Lady Guinevere.

Have a great day. [Poof!]

Post Secret & lovin la vida loca (god, did i just type that?)

Do you read Post Secret? Well, I do. Every Sunday I tune in to see what people submit as their secrets... I love it. I think it's fascinating what they choose to admit and how they present it.

Today I found one that read:

"My creative gifts are worth the mental illness I've suffered for them"

And I couldn't agree more. I have some trouble with reality sometimes... but there's no question I'd have this brain/heart again.

Making my own life.

I have a lot of trouble motivating myself to do things. Once I get an idea in my head that something needs to happen - look out! I will stop at almost nothing to get it done and get it done very well. But getting myself to care about things - how clean my apt is (actually I always care, I just may not clean it), waxing my eyebrows, paying the bills, exercising, putting away laundry... these things are difficult for me to do. I know, I know... nobody likes to do these things but it is like walking through cement sometimes to get them done. I think this is related to the depression I've been battling since I was about 13. I'm finally on medication for it and it seems to really help.

But even so, I wake up a lot of mornings and have to force myself to do things. Once I clean or wax or work out or organize I feel SO GOOD! And that's what I keep reminding myself... this is for YOU, dummy.

Today is a gorgeous day in NYC and I am about to clean up and vacuum so we can start the week with an apt that is neat so when we come home exhausted from work we can say, "Aaaahhhh, we're home" instead of "Oh god, what a mess." It might have something to do with the fact that my husband has been down with the flu for the week, leaving me to do all the cleaning/cooking/maintenance, and that both of us work a lot and have almost no down time. Hmmm..

And then I'm going for a bike ride. Watch me.

I dreamed about an ex this morning.

I dreamed about an ex and I want him outta my head. You know when you have a crystal clear dream of a time that has passe... sorry, had to pet two cats on either side of me... a time that has passed and it brings back a whole slew of emotions that you don't need to relive? Yeah, that's what's happening inside my brain this morning and I want it to go away. What happened was so long ago and water under the pro... sorry, cat in my lap... water under the proverbial bridge and I don't need to rehash it.

We loved each other for a little time and then shit happened and I acted like a controlling weirdo and he acted like a douche and it was over. And scene.

The best cutting board.

Bored?

No, I'm not. I am a domestic weirdo. I once was a girl who only had vodka & cheese in her fridge. Now I plan meals in advance - complicated meals no less - and wonder what are the BEST appliances to have in my kitchen so that I can A) save space; B) multi-task; and C) look cool. Probably in that order too.

I recently put all of our spices into these jars that I ordered on Amazon.com to save space in our tiny but modern kitchen drawers. They also look awesome. I literally just loaded a fresh cartridge into my label-maker and am about to label them. Yes, that is what I mean by domestic weirdo = OCD dork. Btw, we have over 60 jars of spices.

Blah blah blah - HERE'S why I wanted to write this post. And I have to make it quick, but I have the greatest cutting board since sliced bread (never understood that phrase) - I saw it online about a year ago and then went to visit my family and my sister-in-law (who knows all the cool gadgets and stuff) has one and she loves it and says she pretty much only uses this one even though she has several wooden ones as well...


THIS IS IT!


Joseph joseph makes some cool stuff, no? I also recently got a salad bowl as a gift from a friend and I love it! Super cool and useful.

So that is my domestic weirdo report. Chop, rinse, look cool and easy storage. What else does an ex-party-girl gone OCD wife need?

(Some fucking drugs!)

Who said that?

Chocolate & tea... together? Yes.

So my husband recently came home with a little tiny package of heaven. No... get your mind out of the gutter, I mean TEA, people.

Chocolate chai tea, to be specific. I didn't know such a thing existed. I am a big tea drinker and I have recently been drinking my own chai at home. I love the spice. Now chocolate chai is just what it sounds like - part chocolate powder, part chai tea. It isn't sweet - you have to add sugar to make it so, and a healthy dose of milk to lighten it up (at least the way I make it). It is sooo yummy and soothing.

I make it in a pot with loose tea and couldn't be happier. The brand we use is from a local place in NYC, but I'm sure there are many companies that make it.

Enjoy!

My favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I just made my favorite grilled cheese sandwich and thought I'd share it with all of you.

Two slices, soft whole wheat bread
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, sliced
2 Tbs unsalted butter
1 fry pan with lid

Put frying pan on med-high heat... put in 1 Tbs of the butter and let melt completely.
While that is heating put the sandwich together. After butter is melted, put sandwich in pan with lid and leave on med-high for 2 mins. Then turn down the heat to low-med & cook for about 2 mins or until that side is a nice, toasted brown. Flip sandwich, add 1 Tbs butter and cook on med-low heat (turn it up a notch) for 3 mins or until bread is toasted brown. Cheese should be oozing out the sides of the sandwich.

When the sandwich is cooked, put on a small plate and cut in half. Serve immediately.

It's simple. And it's pefect.

Cool Art I would like

Odd and wonderful.


Brooklyn Art!

"Meeting to feed the birds"... cute.


A squid attacks the BK Bridge on a tee shirt.

That's all.

A very NY experience.

Tonight I'm going to a friend's book opening party at a bookstore in Carroll Gardens. I am psyched to see her photography and the book and maybe get some free wine...?

I am BROKE. I don't even have quarters. I had to spend my paycheck on averting a small financial disaster and now have no money whatsoever. It will all work out in the end (hopefully) but for the moment I am... how you say? Cash poor.

I will meet friends at this opening and have a wonderful time, I'm sure, congratulating my friend and looking around at the Brooklyn Literary Elite and then come home to my lovely condo and eat cereal.

I have both lean and lush times in my life and I'm sure this will continue - but tonight is an oh-so NYC experience. Maybe someday I will not only live here, but flourish financially... THAT would be a coup.

Addendum to Preparing to Party - i.e., re-upholstering chairs.

I posted something about wanting to re-upholster my chairs and make new pillow cases before our housewarming party last weekend and - shocker - it didn't happen in time. I went to Mood in NYC to check out the lovely magenta damask that we'd chosen online and it didn't look right in person.

So it was back to the drawing board, so to speak, and I found a more modern fabric that I'm about to buy that is the "pop of color" we were looking for, should wear well and has a great design.

Richloom Trendsetter Mosaic

I also like Richloom Trendsetter Manhattan, but this won't supply the pop of color.

Fabric.com is a great place to shop for all kinds of ... well, fabric. I quilt and sew and love this website.

Ok - on to other projects like lunch.

Steam Clean Your Furniture - It Is Amazing!

Rug Doctor (a potentially x-rated sounding name... yes, I had to go there) is a miracle worker.

My husband and I have 3 cats and thus our furniture tends to look a bit ragged. We have some great pieces that have steadily gotten beat to shit over the last 4-5 years. I have a light yellowy-green chair upholstered in faux suede that I love but gets dirty... and it's gross. I have been embarrassed to have people over and notice that the arms and back are gray with dirt from my darling felines positioning themselves perfectly for snuggles and scraps of food.

My husband being the savvy person that he is, suggested that we rent a Rug Doctor. I was like, "Rent a what? You can do that?" Why yes... yes, you can.

This is THE BEST idea in the world. You can go to their website:

Rug Doctor Website

and click on "Rent Rug Doctor", put in your zip, et voila! We rented from Key Foods in Brooklyn and it cost $30/day. And you have to purchase the detergent yourself. I, of course, being the last-minute-Lucy that I am decided to do this the morning of our housewarming party and steam the back and arms of our couch (which is light blue) and my yellowish chair. We SOAKED them with the solution and vacuumed up the liquid as best we could and they dried within 4 hours? And looked AMAZING. All the stains on the sofa and chair were gone and they looked like new! No more embarrassment! No more sighing when I looked at them after regular vacuuming and wondering how people kept their furniture clean!

Now I know the secret... Rug Doctor. I'm going to rent it again soon to do our rugs and sofa cushions (didn't have time for those and you can see the difference between them and the frame which is clean).

Things to know: It will take a long time. You have to move slowly and really soak and vacuum the places with dirt and stains. And allow several hours to dry. However - it works. I am once again, a happy domestic weirdo.

Happy Steaming!