112. Parks and Recreation
I’ve recently gotten into the show Parks and Recreation, on NBC. The premise is that Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, is deputy chief of the Parks and Recreation Department in Pawnee, Indiana. She considers herself a strong woman, in the ranks of Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton. She is a mover and a shaker, the true powerhouse of Pawnee’s Parks Department.
I watched the first two seasons on Netflix two months ago. Today I am catching up on season three. The last episode I saw, Ron Swanson (Leslie’s boss) got back together with his ex-wife, crazy crazy Tammy Swanson.
The cast is full of fantastic actors and characters. April Ludgate, played by Aubrey Plaza, is a non-plussed 19 year old who works in the office as an assistant. Aziz Ansari plays Tom Haverford, a Justin Timberlake wannabe who is constantly playing tricks on Leslie. Rashida Jones, of “The Office” fame (Karen), plays Ann Perkins, Leslie’s best friend and everyone’s love interest.
I highly recommend this show. Tune in Thursdays at 9:30 on NBC, or watch it online.
111. Gucci Scarves
Finals are over now, so I’ve had a lot of time to devote to looking at expensive scarves on the internet. My most exciting discovery were V. Accornero scarves for Gucci.
:gorgeous:
Vittorio Accornero (1896-1982) was an Italian illustrator for many years before he began designing for Gucci. He invented his first pattern, “Flora,” for Grace Kelly, and his scarves were absolutely iconic in the 60s and 70s.
:flora, sorry it's so small:
I completely understand why.
Accornero first caught my eye on Ebay, with this scarf (in cream). The picture is terrible, but look closely.
:i liked it in cream:
Not only are the flowers and mushroooms unbelievably whimsical and opulent, but Accornero’s signature piece was integrating little bugs (beetles, flies, ladybugs, butterflies, etc) into his work. It’s unbelievable.
:detail of an accornero that i found:
Click here for pictures from a show, entitled “Giardini di Seta,” or Gardens of Silk, in a gallery in Italy.
110. How to Throw a Princess Party
No, the Princess Party isn’t necessarily a rectangle (unless it’s held in a rectangular room). But instruction manuals are rectangles, and this is a How-To. Enjoy with your usual rectangular vim and vigor.
My friend Ariana and I decided to have a grown-up princess party. We went to the craft store and covered everything in pink and purple tulle, pink tablecloths and gems. We invited 11 princesses to come celebrate with us and bought floor length pink dresses. We colored, we made tiaras, we ate pink food.
:dress and decor:
What, you want to throw a grown-up princess party yourself? Well, here are some important components.
Princess Punch
Our delicious (and dangerous) Princess Punch consisted of Cran-Raspberry juice, Ginger Ale, vodka and pink sherbet. The sherbet definitely made the punch, so don’t leave it out. I believe we used Edy’s Berry Rainbow sherbet, which worked very well. It adds a nice foam at the top of the punch as it melts.
:absolutely essential:
Pink Mac and Cheese
We took white Annie’s Mac and added some pink food coloring to it – voila! Pink mac and cheese. This was a super hit. Everyone loved it and it took us less than 10 minutes to make. We started it just before our guests walked through the door. Three boxes for 11 people was just perfect.
:nums:
Princess Cake
Make sure this is pink pink pink! Ari and I used a pink strawberry cake mix and pink strawberry icing. We cooked our cake in the shape of a cupcake with the help of this mold. We filled the center with whipped cream and sprinkles, and then – most importantly – we shoved a Barbie into the cake (inspired by Martha’s version below).
:so pretty:
The cake served as her dress. Then we covered it all in pink, silver and pearl sprinkles. Here’s our version. Guests loved it!
:duh, nicer than martha's:
Tiara Making
There can never be too much glitter or too many gems at a princess party. Ariana and I went to Michael’s to stock up on pre-cut foam pink glitter tiaras. We also bought gems and glittery stickers ranging from castles to crowns to ponies. Our guests loved making their own tiaras!
:tiara station:
Make-up Time
Ari and I supplied glittery make up (lip gloss, nail polish and eye shadow) from Claire’s for our princesses to use. For ourselves, we bought long fake nails with glitter and gems on them.
:punch, makeup and katie's strawberries:
Fancy Dresses
This is perhaps the most important part of a princess party. Ari and I went to Value Village in College Park and bought our perfect princess dresses for less than six dollars apiece! So no one ever has to go broke as a princess – princesses can thrift, too!
:ari in her 6 dollar dress:
109. Square Form
I’ve featured super-talented designer/fabricator Scotty Cummings before. He owns Portland Natural Caskets and makes some gorgeous rectangular coffins and urns. Here’s Scotty’s portfolio.
This is his non-death related site.
Square Form, Scotty’s new business, uses “steel & sustainably harvested woods” to create gorgeous projects.
Featured now is the sweet rectangular Annex Table. Look how pretty!
:annex table:
:check that detail:
Square Form also plans on expanding to the East Coast, partnering with Joseph “Schmoseph” Wills on the steel fabrication front. Scotty says, about the partnership, “Make sure to mention that I’m better than Joe.”
More eyecandy:
The Weigel Bench
:weigel bench:
Scotty is now taking commissions (large and small) for custom wood or steel. Do it!
108. Notebooks
Notebooks have been really important to me for a long time. I kept a diary from 7th grade on, and was very picky about the notebooks I honored with that role in my life. After I started going to therapy, I started keeping a journal pretty regularly, recording my thoughts about what was hard, what was easy, and just what was going on. Initially, I focused mostly on my mental health. I had a lot to say, and I filled up many of these composition books, in different colors.
:great notebooks, i still use them for classes:
After that, I moved on to smaller models, so that I could write lists and take notes and record good quotes, along with my therapeutic writings. My favorite journals these days are by Writersblok. They come in a pack of 4 for about $6. They’re maybe 3′ by 5′, so they’re perfect to keep in the front pocket of my purse or back pack for convenience’s sake. I use them just about every day, whether to jot down a friend’s favorite song, what I want for my birthday, or just To Do lists.
:perfect companion:
About a week ago, Curtis bought me some Moleskine notebooks. I haven’t opened them yet, but Moleskines are supposed to be the trendy-best. As they advertise, they were the chosen notebook of Ernest Hemingway. Mine are navy and in the “cahier” style.
:beaucoup de cahiers:
For a while I also used a gorgeous Florentine notebook to keep track of money I spent – I recorded every expense for a month so I could reconsider how I spent money, considering what was worthwhile and what wasn’t. This experiment was part of what convinced me to stop smoking (so expensive!)
:classic florentine style:
What are my readers’ favorite notebooks and journals? This is such an exciting topic.
107. Radish Toasts
Last Friday night was Date Night for Curtis and I. I went all out cooking, making appetizers, dinner and dessert. Okay, so the dessert was Fruit Cocktail.
:mostly made up of cubes:
For my appetizers I made little mushroom toasts and…radish squares. Inspired by the French love for fresh radishes on bread and butter.
:mmm. reminds me of brittany.:
First, I cut some wheat bread into small squares.I gave the bitty breads a light coating of olive oil, and then put them into the toaster for about three minutes, until they were golden brown. Then I sliced two fresh radishes into discs and placed them on the toasts. I then put some sea salt on the radishes, covered them again with a bit of olive oil, and voila! I had delicious radish squares.
:kinda like these, except without the tiny fish:
The sharp, bitter taste of the cold radishes tasted fantastic with the warmth of the croutons, and Curtis absolutely loved them. Now I make them for myself when I want a nice, light snack.
Fun fact: Radishes (although not rectangular) actually have some significant nutritional value. They are chock full of Potassium, Folate, Magnesium and Vitamin C.
- :so good, so good for you!:
106. Ice Cream Sandwiches
:mmmm:
These compact little babies are one of my favorite treats. And their rectangular status does not hurt that, I can guarantee. I like to let them melt on my dashboard for 5-10 minutes before eating them so they get a little bit gushy. Yes, this takes away from their stellar shape (no, not like a star), but it does get them points on deliciousness.
In the effort to make a fully merit-based decision, I thought about this post for a long time. While doing my research, I found that these quadrilateral beauties are not just something we fat Americans enjoy on the beach – no, they are an international phenomenon. Thank you Wikipedia.
First of all, definition, for those not “in the know,” perse:
“Ice cream sandwiches are frozen desserts composed of a layer of ice cream of any variety “sandwiched” between two cookies or slices of cake.”
And some stimulating info.
“Australia
Within Australia, ice cream sandwiches are given the commercial name of “Giant Sandwich” (recognizable by its distinct blue and pink wrapper), and “Monaco Bar” (recognizable by its gold and black metallic wrapper) in the Eastern states. Other varieties include Streets “Cookie”, “Maxibon” (with one-half ice cream sandwich) and “Maxibon Cookie”.
Although not as widely popular as other ice cream desserts which are promoted more, the ice cream sandwich is considered a nostalgic favourite within Australia.
The original icecream sandwich was commonly known as a ‘cream between’. One purchased a small block of ice cream wrapped in paper and placed it between two wafers.
Scotland
In Scotland they are known as ‘sliders’ or an ice cream wafter (see Ireland, England & Wales) – usually served as vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two rectangle, chocolate wafers.
In Scotland one can buy sliders consisting of vanilla ice cream sandwiched between one wafer and one block of chocolate-covered nougat. These are known as nougat or Chocolate Sliders (or Chocolate Wafers [Fife-Lothian]). Alternatively, called a ‘single nougat’ or in the case of two blocks of nougat; a ‘double nougat’. In this context the word nougat is pronounced as in gold nugget.
Singapore
Wafer ice cream is a type of ice cream popular in Singapore, often known as potong (cut) ice cream. It consists of two original wafers holding together a block of ice cream. Vendors are commonly found along Orchard Road, Chinatown and outside schools.
Common flavours offered include Ripple, Red bean, Yam, Sweet corn, Durian, Honeydew, Peppermint, Chocolate, and Chocolate Chip. Wafer ice cream vendors also sell the same blocks of ice cream on a slice of multicolored bread, a cone or a cup instead of sandwiched between wafers.
Ireland, England & Wales
In Ireland, England and Wales an ice cream wafer, consisting of a small block of ice cream between two rectangular wafer biscuits, was a popular alternative to a cone up until the 1970s. Since then it has declined and is now rarely seen
United States
In the United States, an ice cream sandwich is a slice of ice cream, commonly vanilla although other flavors are often used, sandwiched between two wafers, usually chocolate and rectangular. The current version was invented in 1945 by Jerry Newberg when he was selling ice cream at Forbes field.”
My personal favorite is the Singapore conception of the ice cream sandwich, as described above (so many flavors!).
Additionally, England, Ireland and Wales can suck it.
Indie Ice Cream Sandwiches.
One blogger likes to call her sandwich an “inside out” ICS. Recipe here.
:neo-po rectangles:
I also found this easy recipe for a “Three Ingredient Ice Cream Sandwich Cake.” So many rectangles, so many sandwiches! They even have a rectangular table of nutrition facts. I won’t post it here so it can be a surprise.
:srsly? cool whip?:
**Note – I might replace the Cool Whip in the above referenced recipe with real, actual ice cream. Just think about it.
Here are some “Luxorious Lemon Verbena” ICS’s.
They use the following wafers,
with the below results.
:gorgeous:
Here’s some Lemon Sandwiches with Blueberry Swirl.
:soapretty:
Finally, Vegan S’mores Ice Sandwiches. For the hippy-dippy types. Personally, I would use butter and real ice cream.
:yeah, vegan:
105. Vogue Covers
Today I came across this:
:dub. tee. eff.:
Yes, that’s raw meat. Lady Gaga, I don’t think this is avant garde or fabulous in any way. Come ON.
In honor of Lady Gaga, here’s an assortment of weird Vogue covers.
This cover has been really controversial. Racialicious commented on it pretty well. But here’s Lebron James and Gisele as King Kong and Faye. Obviously the large monkey connotation is pretty screwed up. What do my readers think?
:racist?:
Vogue Taiwan did this weird feathered thing:
:it's like she's a tropical bird:
Apparently Gwyneth Paltrow looks great here? Simple and fashionable…but I think the Robot is weird.
:is metallic "simple"?:
Here’s some vintage Vogue that I think is really creepy.
:strange sparkle:
And Vogue Italia’s take on…pirates?
:dirty is en vogue, i guess?:
104. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
My friend Daniel sent me this video. It’s the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen.
I kind of don’t know what else to say.
103. Gone and Forgotten
Here’s a blog all about comic books – which are most definitely rectangles. I’m sure there are about 12 million of these comic blogs, each with millions of nerds sitting at home reading. But this one is actually kinda cool.
I first heard about Gone and Forgotten on This American Life (listen to the episode here). I was so intrigued that I had to look it up. The author, Jonathan Morris, who likes to go by Your Humble Editor, picks out comics and characters that didn’t pan out, for whatever reason. Gone and Forgotten describes itself as “a blog dedicated to the bottom of the comic book barrel; the Secret Wars IIs, the Kitty Pryde and Wolverines, the Green Teams and John Targitts and the one time Krypto swore like a drunken sailor on shore leave.”
None of that means anything to me, I guess those are inside comic book junkie jokes.
Most of what Morris posts are old “activity pages:”
:really?:
And “Batman leads an interesting life” Fridays:
:well, she is a redhead:
But there is a category for “Classic Gone & Forgotten” which gives the reader plenty of silly-named superheroes and descriptions of their “superpowers.” Here’s an excerpt from Skateman:
:luv:
“…Billy also befriends a local neighborhood “Beaner” (his words, not mine, folks) Paco, whom he teaches to “defend himself AND ride a skateboard.” Teach what you know, I guess. This starts to help Billy out of his depression, until BIKERS KILL ANGEL [his girlfriend]! Thanks for being in the Dramatis Personae, hon, we really cared deeply for you as a character.
This sends Billy over the edge, and inspired by Paco’s comic book collection, our flaxen-haired derby jockey adopts a disguise to strike terror into criminal’s hearts – assuming the criminals live in Venice Beach and are easily scared – SKATEMAN!”
:in full regalia:
“…As an aside, all the hispanic people in this book are apparently migrant workers. This alone is just not right. Then all the white people are either bikers or disco dancers. And all the black people in this book aren’t anywhere to be seen at all. (Okay, except for Rudy). This is just one of many things that are chronically not right with this book.”
The best thing about this site is not that I could spend hours perusing the silliness of it, but that Morris is a really good writer. Enjoy!
